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Empowering the Future: The 'Tara, Basa!' Tutoring Program's Impact on Education and Communities

A prosperous country is built on a strong foundation of education, making universal access to high-quality education an important goal. Through the “Tara, Basa!” Tutoring Program, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of Education (DepEd) have made notable progress in achieving this goal. 

While improving children's reading abilities is the program's primary goal, it has grown to benefit college students through DSWD and DepEd’s reformatted educational assistance. Its objective is to give financial assistance to qualified college students who teach grade 1 non-readers and struggling readers. Each qualified Learning Facilitator and Youth Development Officer received a cash-for-work payout of 610 pesos per teaching session.

Joshua Laguna, Learning Facilitator from PLM (Photo courtesy of DSWD-NCR)

This innovative program not only promotes literacy among young learners but also gives college students the resources they need to take an active role in influencing the future of their communities.

Meet Joshua, a learning facilitator from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) in Manila. He is also a future educator, and the program served as his learning ground. The education assistance also helped him buy the things he needed for school. 

“Yung benefit ng Tara, Basa! para sa akin bilang Education Major student and as a future educator, ginawa ko siyang training ground para sa akin at sa mga matuturuan kong student in the future,” he said. 

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa DSWD at DepEd para sa programang Tara, Basa! dahil nakatulong ito sa aming gastusin at pambili ng school materials,” he added.

Another qualified learning facilitator is Zandra, a college student from the Unibersidad de Manila (UdM) in Manila. It has opened up an opportunity for her to assist struggling readers while providing a temporary source of income. Zandra is also glad to help her parents with school expenses. 

“As a student, may books po kami na kailangan. Ito po siguro yung way namin to help our parents, na yung mga needs po namin hindi na kailangang hingiin dahil nakapag-provide na po kami due to Tara, Basa!” she said.

Along with the learning facilitators, 'youth development officers,' who are college student volunteers, will lead “Nanay-Tatay-Teacher” sessions on successful parenting. These sessions will include issues like recognizing oneself as a parent, the dynamics of the Filipino family, difficulties in parenting, child development, and children's rights, among other things.

The tutoring program is piloted in the National Capital Region's (NCR) sole municipality of Pateros, as well as the cities of Caloocan, Valenzuela, Malabon, Navotas, Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay, Las Pinas, Quezon City, Marikina, San Juan, Pasig, Taguig, and Las Piñas.

Zandra Bismonte, Learning Facilitator from UDM (Photo courtesy of DSWD-NCR)

“Tara, Basa!” Tutoring Program

The program's main goal is to help students in grade 1 who frequently have difficulty reading at grade level due to various socioeconomic factors. "Tara, Basa!" uses a variety of instructional strategies, engaging activities, and educational resources to keep young students interested and learning fun. The initiative closes the literacy gap and provides these children with a strong foundation for future academic achievement by offering focused reading support.

The program encourages a cycle of learning and community participation by using college students as learning facilitators, which can change lives and create a better future for everyone. Through programs like “Tara, Basa!” and by working together, budding educators can become part of the solution in helping Filipino children have access to high-quality education and giving them the opportunity to influence their communities significantly toward a more literacy-driven Bagong Pilipinas. (PIA-NCR)

About the Author

Gelaine Louise Gutierrez

Information Officer II

NCR

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