DSWD's reading tutorial program to benefit 2,000 'struggling or non-reader' grade school learners in Samar province
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the launch of the reformatted educational assistance initiative called “Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program” in Samar province on April 19.
Gatchalian said the reading tutorial program is important to help eradicate “learning poverty” and support college students who need financial assistance for their education.
Under the program, “non-readers” or “struggling readers” in elementary will receive reading assistance from college student-tutors.
“We believe that, number one, we have to end illiteracy. No Filipino youth should remain unable to read,” the DSWD chief said during the program launch.
“We want to make sure that we assist our college students who are just lacking in finances to finish but, at the same time, you will also be enlisted to become tutors for the children,” he added.
College students from Samar’s select state universities will serve as tutors and youth development workers (YDWs).
The program in Samar will benefit some 2,000 “struggling and non-reader” grade school learners, their parents, 200 tutors, and 40 YDWs.
Tutors and YDWs will receive educational support through the agency’s cash-for-work mechanism for their services in conducting learning, reading, and “nanay-tatay” teacher sessions for the parents of the child-beneficiaries.
Gatchalian also emphasized the significance of one of the program’s components to sustain the impact of learning and reading activities.
“We want to make sure to make it more sustainable. We want to train our parents to become the first teachers at home. Little did parents keep forgetting that the first teachers are not the teachers in the classroom, but rather, the first teachers are the teachers in the house, in the home,” he said.
“That’s why we came up with the third component of this program, the nanay-tatay parenting program or teaching program. We believe that the nanay or the tatay are the teachers at home,” he added.
DSWD also offers cash-for-work to parents and guardians of children who are beneficiaries of the tutoring program for their attendance at the sessions and their help with their children’s after-reading assignments and learning needs.
Gatchalian signed a memorandum of agreement with Samar Provincial Governor Sharee Ann Tan, Samar State University President Dr. Redentor S. Palencia, and Northwest Samar State University President Dr. Benjamin L. Pecayo, represented by the university’s Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Ramil Catamora for the implementation of the agency’s tutoring program in Samar.