to engage in livelihood activities or obtain gainful employment. The Department of Labor and Employment shall likewise design and conduct training programs geared towards providing disabled persons with skills for livelihood. SECTION 10. Vocational Guidance and Counselling The Department of Social Welfare and Development shall implement measures providing and evaluating vocational guidance and counselling to enable disabled persons to secure, retain and advance in employment. It shall ensure the availability and training counsellors and other suitability qualified staff responsible for the vocational guidance and counselling of disabled persons. SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations The Department of Labor and Employment shall in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP), shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to implement the provision under this Chapter. CHAPTER 2 – Education SECTION 12. Access to Quality Education The State shall ensure that disabled persons are provided with adequate access to quality education and ample opportunities to develop their skills. It shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all disabled persons. It shall be unlawful for any learning institutions to deny a disabled person admission to any course it offers by reason of handicap or disability. The State shall take into consideration the special requirements of disabled persons in the formulation of education policies and program. It shall encourage learning institutions to take into account the special needs of disabled persons with respect to the use of school facilities, class schedules, physical education requirements and other pertinent consideration. The State shall also promote the provision by learning institutions, of auxiliary services that will facilitate the learning process for disabled persons. SECTION 13. Assistance to Disabled Students The State shall provide financial assistance to economically marginalized but deserving disabled students pursuing post secondary or tertiary education. Such assistance may be in the form of scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies, and other incentives to qualified disabled students in both public and private schools. At least five percent (5%) of the allocation for the Private Education Student Financial Assistance Program created by virtue of R.A. 6728 shall be set aside for disabled students pursuing vocational or technical and degree courses. SECTION 14. Special Education The State shall establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate and integrated system of special education for the visually impaired, hearing impaired, mentally retarded persons and other type of exceptional children in all regions of the country. Towards this end, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports shall establish special education classes in public schools in cities, or municipalities. It shall also establish, where viable, Braille and Record Libraries in provinces, cities or municipalities. The National Government shall allocate funds necessary for the effective implementation of the special education program nationwide. Local government units may likewise appropriate counterpart funds to supplement national funds. SECTION 15. Vocational or Technical and Other Training Programs The State provide disabled persons with training in civics, vocational efficiency, sports and physical fitness, and other skills. The Department of Education, Culture and Sports shall establish in at least one government-owned vocational and technical school in every province a special vocational and technical training program for disabled persons. It shall develop and implement sports and physical fitness program specifically designed for disabled persons taking into consideration the nature of their handicap. SECTION 16. Non-Formal Education The State shall develop nonformal education programs intended for the total human development of disabled persons. It shall provide adequate resources for non-formal education programs and projects that cater to the special needs of disabled persons. SECTION 17. State Universities and Colleges If viable and needed, the State Universities or State Colleges in each region or province shall be responsible for (a) the development of material appliances and technical aids for disabled persons; (b) the development of training materials for vocational rehabilitation and special education instructions; and (c) the research on special problems, particularly of the visually-