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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DSWD rolls out expanded reading tutorial program in Cebu City

DSWD rolls out expanded reading tutorial program in Cebu City

Published Mar 8, 2024 10:24 am

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the kick-off ceremony for the agency’s expanded “Tara, Basa!” tutoring program in Cebu City on Friday, March 8.

With this scale up, the program is expected to benefit over 180,700 beneficiaries, including parents, tutors, grade school students, and youth development workers (YDWs) from the target expansion areas.

Gatchalian said the program’s expansion follows a successful pilot test in Metro Manila from August to November 2023, which is a way for the department “to incorporate education into social welfare” to improve the conditions of the agency’s clients.

“We are very, very happy to bring Tara, Basa! to cities outside Metro Manila,” he said during the kick-off activity.

“The President [Marcos] instructed us to transform the department from purely social welfare to developmental because through development we can pull our people out of poverty. Yes, social welfare is important, but social welfare, as we know, is temporary. Developmental programs, like Tara, Basa!, are long term and institutionalized,” he added.

Gatchalian emphasized that the tutoring program has been successful in helping “struggling” and “non-reader” elementary students with the “20-day after-school reading sessions” component.

He also underscored the program’s significance for college students who serve as tutors and need academic assistance from state, local, and university campuses.

“With this program, we extend to them the education assistance that they expect from the department. So that’s the social welfare side,” he said.

Gatchalian conveyed his appreciation to the key partners for their dedication to guaranteeing the program’s success and effective implementation.

“I think the greatest thing that we can do together as a whole-of-nation approach is helping our children out of darkness, out of the illiteracy sphere that they are in. With reading, like, we can uplift the lives of our children out of poverty. But at the same time, we’re making something great happen,” he said.

For the program’s citywide implementation, Gatchalian signed a memorandum of agreement with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and State Universities and Colleges, which was represented by President Dr. Daniel Ariaso Sr. of Cebu Normal University.

In addition to Cebu City, the tutoring program will be implemented in Malolos City and San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan, Quezon province, Western Samar, Taraka and Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, and General Santos City in South Cotabato.

The program will also be continued in Metro Manila.

Under the program, YDWs provide “nanay-tatay” learning sessions to parents and guardians, while tutors provide learning and reading sessions to struggling and non-reading elementary students.

Related Tags

Tara Basa! Tutoring Program Secretary Rex Gatchalian DSWD
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