CALAMBA CITY (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office IV-A has started training a total of 1,650 youth who will serve as tutors under the “Tara Basa! Tutoring Program (TBTP).”
On April 1, the DSWD IV-A launched its capacity-building sessions for tutors and youth development workers who will support the Tara Basa! Tutoring Program.
The DSWD IV-A expects a total of 1,00 tutors and 550 youth development workers from various state and local universities and colleges in Cavite and Quezon provinces.
Tutoring sessions under TBTP are set to begin on May 19.
According to the DSWD, the volunteers–mostly college students pursuing education and social sciences degrees–will provide tutorial sessions to incoming Grade 2 pupils. They will also conduct Nanay-Tatay sessions with the parents.
During a capacity-building session attended by 51 college students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Unisan, Laarni Reintegrado, DSWD IV-A Innovations Division officer-in-charge, reminded the volunteers that the program is an opportunity to help learners enrich their reading skills.
“Sa programang ito, hindi lamang ito tungkol sa matatanggap ninyong educational assistance. Mahalaga ang inyong magiging kontribusyon sa paggabay sa mga bata upang mapaunlad ang kanilang pagbabasa, magkaroon ng kumpyansa sa sarili, at mas pahalagahan ang kanilang pag-aaral.”
While participating in the program is an achievement for the volunteers, Reintegrado encouraged them to show genuine care for the learners and parents involved in the program.
Launched in 2023, Tara, Basa! Tutoring program is the DSWD’s developmental and community-based social protection program that provides aid for low-income families and college students through a Cash for Work system.
It aims to train students from State Universities and Colleges (SUC) to teach underprivileged and struggling readers in public elementary schools.
It is currently being implemented in Bacoor City, Cavite as well as various parts of Quezon Province, aimed to improve the literacy skills of children identified as non-readers or struggling readers. (PB-PIA4A/DSWD Region IV-A)
