Over 31,000 students benefit from DSWD’s pilot of ‘Tara, Basa’ program

(FILE) BACK TO SCHOOL In this photo taken in August last year, teachers at Aurora Quezon Elementary School in San Andres, Manila, guide their students on the first day of school following the resumption of in-person classes after two years of distance learning due to the pandemic. —RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that it has assisted 31,234 elementary students in the pilot implementation of its Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program.

According to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the department is ready to partner with the Department of Education (DepEd) in its campaign to promote reading and reduce illiteracy.

“[G]usto lang po naming sabihin sa DepEd na in any of those reforms na kakailanganin ninyo ang DSWD, dahil alam niyo naman na kami yung may konting financial muscle to be able to incentivize beneficiaries, huwag na huwag po kayong mag-aatubili na magsabi kasi we are ready to partner with all your learning programs,” Gatchalian said on Monday.

READ: College students to get P570 a day as reading tutors

(We want to tell DepEd that in any of those reforms that you may need the DSWD, because you know that we are the ones with financial muscle to be able to incentivize beneficiaries, do not hesitate to reach out because we are ready to partner with all your learning programs.)

READ: DSWD disbursed P59M so far for ‘Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program’

The DSWD also added that it also assisted 31,207 parents and guardians through reading and parenting sessions, which were done by trained college students.

Gatchalian likewise said that the DSWD will continue the program in Metro Manila, and plans to expand it to the province of Bulacan, as well as Marawi and Taraka, in Mindanao.

The Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program aims to help elementary students who are struggling in reading. College students, who will be their tutors, will be paid P500 per day for the 20-day program.