DSWD, DepEd begin pilot run of reading tutorial program
Published Aug 2, 2023 06:33 am
With the goal of benefiting both low-income college students and struggling or non-reader grade school students, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), launched the pilot run of the “Tara, Basa!” tutoring program on Wednesday, Aug. 2.
The Tara, Basa! tutoring program, which is a “reformatted” educational assistance program of the DSWD, empowers low-income college students to become tutors and Youth Development Workers (YDWs) by offering reading tutorials for struggling Grade 1 learners.
YDWs will also conduct “Nanay-Tatay teacher” sessions on effective parenting, focusing on self-understanding, Filipino family dynamics, challenges, child development, and children’s rights.
Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the launching of the pilot implementation of the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program on Aug. 2, 2023. (Photo courtesy of DSWD)
“For the first time, the DSWD and DepEd have joined forces to help those elementary school students who are struggling or non-readers; college students who have a need to continue or complete their education; and parents and the entire community that have an important role in shaping children’s reading skills,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said during the launching ceremony at the Rizal High School in Pasig City. For its pilot implementation, about 6,000 college students and 63,000 Grade 1 learners and parents and guardians in Metro Manila will benefit from the Tara, Basa! program. Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte, who graced the launching ceremony, lauded the youth volunteers for the program. “We are grateful to our university and college student-participants in this program. The goodness of your hearts and willingness to share your time and knowledge with our young learners is a testament of your love for our motherland. It is comforting to know that the Philippines continues to be home to young Filipinos who are selfless, who love their fellow Filipinos and their country. We hope to see more and more Filipinos like you, Filipinos who also see that investing in our children is investing in the future,” Duterte said. The vice president also thanked the DSWD for developing the reading tutorial program that will help hone the reading skills of elementary students. “This is a creative, collaborative, and exciting response to the challenge of supplemental learning through tutoring outside of the hours designated for classroom learning,” Duterte said. “We are also grateful to the DSWD for collaborating with DepEd on this endeavor. We acknowledge your contributions to our efforts to correct the wrongs afflicting our education system. Wrongs that badly hurt our children’s education and could potentially damage our future. Sana ang Tara, Basa! tutoring program, ay maghatid ng positibong pagbabago sa ating mga mag-aaral (I hope that the Tara, Basa tutoring program will bring positive change to our students),” she added. College students who will serve as tutors and YDWs will be compensated with cash-for-work payments of P570 per day for 20 days in exchange for their services. Financial aid is intended to help college students with expenses such as transportation, school supplies, school projects, allowances, and other related costs. Meanwhile, parents and guardians of struggling or non-reader elementary students will receive P235 per day for 20 days for their assistance in preparing their children’s needs for learning and reading sessions, assisting them in their after-reading session assignments, attending parent effectiveness sessions, and participating in other related activities.
Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the launching of the pilot implementation of the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program on Aug. 2, 2023. (Photo courtesy of DSWD)
“For the first time, the DSWD and DepEd have joined forces to help those elementary school students who are struggling or non-readers; college students who have a need to continue or complete their education; and parents and the entire community that have an important role in shaping children’s reading skills,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said during the launching ceremony at the Rizal High School in Pasig City. For its pilot implementation, about 6,000 college students and 63,000 Grade 1 learners and parents and guardians in Metro Manila will benefit from the Tara, Basa! program. Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte, who graced the launching ceremony, lauded the youth volunteers for the program. “We are grateful to our university and college student-participants in this program. The goodness of your hearts and willingness to share your time and knowledge with our young learners is a testament of your love for our motherland. It is comforting to know that the Philippines continues to be home to young Filipinos who are selfless, who love their fellow Filipinos and their country. We hope to see more and more Filipinos like you, Filipinos who also see that investing in our children is investing in the future,” Duterte said. The vice president also thanked the DSWD for developing the reading tutorial program that will help hone the reading skills of elementary students. “This is a creative, collaborative, and exciting response to the challenge of supplemental learning through tutoring outside of the hours designated for classroom learning,” Duterte said. “We are also grateful to the DSWD for collaborating with DepEd on this endeavor. We acknowledge your contributions to our efforts to correct the wrongs afflicting our education system. Wrongs that badly hurt our children’s education and could potentially damage our future. Sana ang Tara, Basa! tutoring program, ay maghatid ng positibong pagbabago sa ating mga mag-aaral (I hope that the Tara, Basa tutoring program will bring positive change to our students),” she added. College students who will serve as tutors and YDWs will be compensated with cash-for-work payments of P570 per day for 20 days in exchange for their services. Financial aid is intended to help college students with expenses such as transportation, school supplies, school projects, allowances, and other related costs. Meanwhile, parents and guardians of struggling or non-reader elementary students will receive P235 per day for 20 days for their assistance in preparing their children’s needs for learning and reading sessions, assisting them in their after-reading session assignments, attending parent effectiveness sessions, and participating in other related activities.