A total of 120,359 college students, struggling and non-reader elementary learners, and parents have benefitted from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) expanded Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program.

DSWD spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, made this announcement as the agency wrapped up the program for 2024.

“After 20 reading and Nanay-Tatay sessions, the DSWD, through the help of our trained college students, has assisted a total of 54,985 struggling and non-reader elementary learners and another 54,985 parents and guardians,” Dumlao said in a news release.

These college students, consisting of 8,000 tutors and 2,389 youth development workers (YDWs) were capacitated and deployed in select elementary schools to help improve the reading proficiency of elementary students and conduct Nanay-Tatay teacher sessions for parents and guardians of the grade school beneficiaries, respectively.

“With the expansion of the tutoring program outside the National Capital Region (NCR), we can help more college students to defray their school expenses such as transportation expenses, school supplies, school projects, allowances, and other related expenses,” Dumlao said.

After the pilot implementation in Metro Manila last year, the agency partnered with the local government units (LGUs) in Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 7 (Central Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas), 10 (Northern Mindanao), 12 (Soccsksargen) and Calabarzon for the expansion of the tutoring program.

Each tutor and YDW receives cash-for-work, depending on the amount of minimum wage rate in their respective areas, in exchange for the 20 tutorial and parenting sessions they have conducted with the grade school learners and parents.

Participating schools in Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Soccsksargen have wrapped up the 20-day tutoring sessions as of Thursday, Dumlao said.

“Reading and parenting sessions in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and National Capital Region were canceled due to the recent Super Typhoon Carina compounded by the southwest monsoon,” she said.

The participating schools in the three regions will conduct make-up sessions for Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program until August 10.

Gina Jambo Guerrera, a guardian of one of the elementary learners from Lingunan Elementary School in Valenzuela City, said the Nanay-Tatay teacher sessions were a great help to parents and guardians as they realize the importance of having time with their children.

“Maraming salamat po sa Tara, Basa dahil nagkaroon po kami ng magandang asal sa aming mga anak. Marami po ang natutulungan na magulang na mas maging mabuting magulang at mas nasuportahan po namin ang aming mga anak sa pag-aaral. Natanggal na po namin ang mga maling gawain at napalawak pa po ang aming kaisipan (Thank you very much to the Tara, Basa because we learned etiquette towards our children. Several parents are guided to become better fathers and mothers and we were able to support our kids in school. We have removed our wrongdoings and we have broadened our minds),” Gina Guevarra said.

The Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program is the reformatted educational assistance program of the Department that creates an ecosystem of learning by training college students from low-income families who are in difficult situations to become tutors and YDWs. (PNA)