Over 1K TESDA scholars graduate as contact tracers

28 March 2021
Taguig City — A total of 1,689 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholars nationwide have graduated the agency’s Contact Tracing Training Program (CTTP) in 2020. 

TESDA-National Capital Region (NCR), through the MuntiParLasTaPat District Training and Assessment Center pilot-launched the Contact Tracing Level II Program last September 9, 2020.

Data from TESDA’s Regional Operations Management Office (ROMO) showed that Region II has produced the highest total number of graduates in 2020 with 581 followed by NCR and Region I with 327 and 151, respectively.

The data further showed that Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has 140 graduates; Region XI with 106; Region IX with 101; Region X with 69; Region V with 67; Region XII with 49; Region VIII with 30; Region III with 28; Region IV-A with 22; and Region XIII with 18.

Meanwhile, data also from ROMO showed that 117 TESDA Technology Institutions (TTIs) nationwide have registered the Contact Tracing Level II course.

With this, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña is encouraging the local government units (LGUs) to tap the graduates for employment as contact tracers in their barangays. 

He also encouraged the LGUS to avail its free contact tracing training program as it will boost the country’s response to Covid-19 pandemic.

“The delivery of the training course on contact tracing still remains relevant. As you know, transmission of the coronavirus is yet to be fully contained here and anywhere else in the world,” Lapeña said.

“We need more people at the community level who are equipped with the right skills in tracing the close contacts of Covid-19 positive individuals,” he added.

The training program was developed with the help of the Health Human Resources Development Bureau of the Department of Health (DOH) and the health industry experts. It runs for 15 days on blended learning modality.

Trainees for contact tracing must have completed at least 10 years basic education or holder of Alternative Learning System certificate of completion with Grade 10 equivalent and has basic communication skills.

Trainees will be given a training allowance amounting to PhP2,400 for the entire duration of the training, insurance coverage, and allowance for health protection equipment and internet. The graduates may apply in the LGUs of their choice for possible deployment or employment.  ###