TESDA develops contract tracing materials

Materials for the Contact Tracing Training Program of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are now being developed for possible launch next month.

The agency was able to develop the competency standards for the said training program last month.hrough the help of the Health Human Resources Development Bureau of the Department of Health (DOH-HHRDB) and the health industry's experts.

TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña noted the training program aims to respond to industry skills requirements for contact tracing and produce individuals with 21st century skills compliant to existing industry standards.

"We also want to provide world-class and competent human resources for contact tracing and at the same time, ensure that the education and training providers shall deliver the programs in accordance with our competency standards as required by our health sector," he said.

The TESDA chief is also encouraging all TVET institutions to register their own contact tracing courses which will be processed by TESDA Regional and Provincial Offices.

Through a memorandum issued last month, Lapeña tasked the National Institute for Technical Education and Skills Development (NITESD) and all of the agency's regional and provincial offices to develop a competency-based curriculum to standardize the program and ensure that it is in accordance with standards.

Based on the competency standards, trainees who will be trained for contact tracing for free must have completed at least ten years basic education or holder of Alternative Learning System certificate of completion with Grade 10 equivalent and has basic communication skills.

Meanwhile, a contact tracing trainer must be a holder of Trainer's Methodology Certificate or must be a practicing trainer for two years within the last five years.

The trainer must also have completed any health or allied health courses.  This does not imply that the trainer must be a degree holder. He/she must also possess good communication skills and must have at least two years public health industry experience within the last five years.

The Contact Tracing Training Program, which will run for 15 days, will be implemented in a blended learning modality which will be composed of online and offline learning with a face-to-face component as provided by the curriculum.

Meanwhile, Lapeña also clarified that TESDA committed to produce at least two million washable face masks per month and not 50 million as earlier reported. 

This will be part of the government project to initially produce 20 million face masks for distribution to the public.

The project is being undertaken by the Office of the President with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), TESDA, and other agencies.

The DTI, under Sec. Ramon Lopez, is overseeing the production of the washable face masks by the different manufacturers. TESDA will contribute in this effort through “training cum production” of its scholar