Section 12Sec./Art. 12

Professionalization of CDTs; National Competency Assessment of CDWs; Certification, Reskilling, and Upskilling of Incumbent CDWs; Scholarships for Continuing Education. - There shall be at least one (1) CDT and one (1) CDW for every CDC, and every province, city, and municipality shall create plantilla positions for CDTs and CDWs pursuant to Section 7(b)(5) of this Act.

The guidelines for the salary grades (SGs), eligibility and qualifications, and duties and responsibilities, among others, shall be issued by the local chief executive in consultation with and as approved by the CSC and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM): Provided, That the SGs shall not be lower than SG 11 for CDTs, SG 10 for CDWs with an associate degree, and SG 8 for other CDWs: Provided, further, That a CDT shall be a holder of any bachelor's degree, preferably with units in early childhood education, and has passed the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (BLEPT): Provided, furthermore, That a CDW shall be a holder of at least an associate degree in early childhood education, at least a senior high school graduate and has passed the national competency assessment for CDWs, or a high school graduate who has finished two (2) years of tertiary education and has passed the same assessments by the TESDA for CDWs: Provided, finally, That a CDT r a CDW (a) must not have been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime involving moral turpitude; (b) must not have a pending case in relation to Republic Act No. 11930 or the "Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Explicitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act"; Republic Act No. 9208 or the "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003", as amended; or Republic Act No. 7610 or the "Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act", as amended; and (c) must not be included in the child sex offender registry list.

Incumbent CDW shall complete mandatory reskilling and upskilling training programs on ECCD or early childhood reskilling and upskilling training programs on ECCD or early childhood education to be provided by the ECCD Council, and pass a certification by the TESDA for CDWs.

The TESDA shall provide such assessment and certification free of charge.

The ECCD Council, in collaboration with the CHED or the TESDA, or both, shall ensure the availability of ECCD training programs across the country, the formulation of degree and associate programs in early childhood education, and the recognition of prior learning and credit transfer mechanisms.

Further, the ECCD Council, in collaboration with the CHED, shall develop a scholarship program for the continuing education of CDWs who shall complete their bachelor's degrees and be required to take the BLEPT within an agreed period of time. The scholars shall be required to fulfill an obligation to return service in the CDCs for such reasonable period as may be determined by the ECCD Council.