Section 11Sec./Art. 11

Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training. -The DepEd shall collaborative with the CHED to ensure that teacher educations institutions offering bachelor of elementary or secondary education degrees include in the curriculum courses on inclusive education which are updated and responsive to the diverse needs of learners with disabilities.

In order to adequately provide the needed personnel for the implementation of this Act, the CHED, TESDA, and DepEd shall closely coordinate and effectively implement programs necessary to support the continuing education of DepEd personnel including a unified system for ladderized education, which shall have a mechanism for conversion of career experience into education degree credits. This shall include programs for transitions and progressions for teaching and non-teaching personnel, such as, but not limited to, programs for an educations degree graduate to become a special needs education teacher, and a psychology degree graduate to become a guidance counselor:Provided,That they shall pass the required licensure examinations or were issued the required certifications.

The DepEd shall also collaborate with relevant partners in the government, the academe, and the private sector to develop and conduct appropriate training programs, advanced seminars, and workshops on disability for all in-service teachers, which may include those in private schools, to upgrade their skills and develop new professional competencies and enhance the services for learners with disabilities.

The Professional Regulation Commission shall ensure that a separate field of specialization on special needs education and inclusive education shall be incorporated in the licensure examination for teachers.

At least one (1) teacher education institution from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao shall be established as a Center of Excellence in special needs education.