Section 11Sec./Art. 11

Professional and Career Development. - The DepEd shall, in coordination with the DBM, CSC, and PRC, prepare a uniform career and personnel development plan that shall include provisions on personal wellness, merit promotion, performance evaluation, in-service training, post-graduate scholarship grants, research grants, suggestions, and incentive award system.

The promotion of School Counselors and School Counselor Associates shall be based on merit, fitness, and competence through the reclassification of position titles.

The DepEd shall, in collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), develop a scholarship program for teaching personnel interested in becoming either a (a) School Counselor Associate, requiring the completion of a Bachelor's Degree with at least eighteen (18) units of courses in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology, or any related Bachelor's Degree with at least eighteen (18) units of courses of Behavioral Science including two hundred (200) hours of supervised practicum or internship experience on guidance and counseling; or (b) School Counselor, necessitating the attainment of a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology, and successful passing of the licensure examinations within a reasonable period.

A scholarship program shall likewise be made available to School Counselor Associates to qualify as School Counselor.ℒαwρhi৷

The scholars shall be required to fulfill an obligation to return service in the DepEd by serving as School Counselors or School Counselor Associates for such reasonable period as may be determined by the DepEd.