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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DSWD tutoring program for struggling readers enters 4th year; 133K learners, parents, tutors set to benefit

DSWD tutoring program for struggling readers enters 4th year; 133K learners, parents, tutors set to benefit

Published May 8, 2026 10:01 am

At A Glance

  • Tara Basa! tutoring program is DSWD's reformatted educational assistance, designed to create a learning ecosystem where college students are capacitated and deployed as tutors and youth development workers to enhance the reading proficiency of elementary students.
(DSWD Northern Mindanao/Facebook)
(DSWD Northern Mindanao/Facebook)
The government’s “Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program” (TBTP) has reached more than 133,000 beneficiaries in its latest rollout as more families seek reading support for struggling readers, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Friday, May 8.
The program, which started its current cycle on May 4, includes child learners, parents and guardians, tutors, and Youth Development Workers (YDWs) assisting in sessions nationwide.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said 57,291 child learners and parents or guardians are currently attending sessions, along with 11,468 tutors and 7,570 youth development workers (YDWs) involved in implementation.
“Ngayong ikaapat na taon ng implementasyon, patuloy na pinalalakas ng programa ang mga pamilyang mababa ang kita at kabataang estudyante sa pamamagitan ng community-based cash-for-work initiative na tumutulong sa pag-aaral, kabuhayan at nation-building (Now on its fourth year of implementation, the program continues to strengthen low-income families and student-youth beneficiaries through a community-based cash-for-work initiative that supports education, livelihood, and nation-building),” Dumlao said.
The program combines reading tutorials for struggling elementary learners with parenting sessions meant to help families continue literacy work at home.
DSWD said TBTP is being carried out with 122 higher education institutions, 2,612 elementary schools, and 196 local government units.
It added that sessions will continue until September, depending on regional schedules.
The program is DSWD's reformatted educational assistance, designed to create a learning ecosystem where college students are capacitated and deployed as tutors and YDWs to enhance the reading proficiency of elementary students.
Each tutor and YDW will receive cash-for-work compensation based on the regional minimum wage rate for the 20 tutoring and parenting sessions with grade school learners and their parents. 
Parents and guardians of elementary learners will also receive cash assistance for attending “nanay-tatay teacher sessions” and assisting with their children’s learning and reading assignments.
READ MORE: 
mb.com.ph/2026/03/19/dswd-cites-significant-literacy-gains-among-reading-tutoring-program-learners

Related Tags

DSWD TARA BASA TUTORING PROGRAM READING TUTORING DSWD ASSISTANT SECRETARY IRENE DUMLAO
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