DSWD trains college students to teach children how to read

MAKING READING A HABIT Grade 4 students at President Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Quezon City take part in “Catch-Up Fridays” at the start of the program on Jan. 12, 2024. INQUIRER file photo / LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Wednesday that it has trained more than 3,880 college students to teach reading to children under its Tara, Basa! program.

According to DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, the agency has finished its pilot testing and has partnered with seven regions nationwide for its implementation.

READ: DSWD launches ‘Tara Basa’ program for kids with reading difficulties

“We are done with the pilot testing and saw remarkable results among the beneficiaries. For this year, we have expanded the program and partnered with the different local government units in Regions 3, 7, 8, 10, 12, Calabarzon, and National Capital Region,” Dumlao said as quoted in a release of the DSWD.

She added that the DSWD is looking to include more than 85,210 elementary students under the program.

Along the program, the DSWD said that incentives will be given to parents and guardians who will also be included in the program of teaching their children to read.

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

“To strengthen the family and community support system of elementary learners who are struggling to read or are non-readers, parents and guardians of the elementary student-beneficiaries, who are the first teachers to their children, will have to attend Nanay-Tatay teacher sessions,” Dumlao added.

The Tara, Basa! is a program where the DSWD employs college students to teach reading to elementary students in exchange for incentives.