READING TUTORS. Second to fourth-year college student-beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program receive cash-for-work at the City of Malabon University on Thursday (Sept. 14, 2023). The tutoring program is the reformatted educational assistance of the DSWD that offers short-term work and learning opportunities for college students belonging to low-income families. (Photo courtesy of DSWD)
MANILA – Some 432 college student-beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program received cash-for-work (CFW) on Thursday during the first simultaneous payouts in their respective local universities and colleges in Metro Manila.
The beneficiaries, studying at the City of Malabon University, Navotas Polytechnic College, Universidad de Manila and Parañaque City College, each received PHP 4,800 or equivalent to eight days of tutoring and conducting "Nanay-Tatay" module sessions, with a daily rate of PHP610, following the new daily minimum wage set by the Department of Labor and Employment.
Under the program, 2nd to 4th-year college students from select state universities and colleges (SUCs) as well as local government-run universities in the NCR are trained to become Tutors and Youth Development Workers (YDWs).
As tutors and YDWs, they will conduct reading sessions for struggling and non-reader elementary learners, as well as "Nanay-Tatay" module sessions for parents and guardians of grade school beneficiaries for 20 days.
Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program is the reformatted educational assistance of the DSWD that offers short-term work and learning opportunities for college students belonging to low-income families in exchange for providing tutoring services to struggling learners.
The student-beneficiaries not only expressed gratitude for the cash-for-work, but were also thankful for the opportunities they had in contributing to the effort to boost quality education among children.
Arlene Joy Rosauro, one of the tutors under Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program, said conducting reading sessions is fulfilling as she sees the improvement among the elementary students under her tutelage.
"Nakikita ko po na napakalaking bagay ang Tara, Basa! sa nation-building kasi ngayon po ang pine-face po natin ay sobrang mababa po ng reading comprehension ng mga bata. That is why itong step po na ito ay malaking bagay para mas ma-enhance yung comprehension ng mga bata kasi marunong po talaga silang magbasa, but the thing is hindi po nila kayang i-comprehend (I can see that Tara, Basa contributes a lot to nation-building because we are facing low reading comprehension among children. That is why this step contributes much to further enhance the comprehension of the children because they really know how to read, but the thing is they can't comprehend),” she said.
The 3rd year college student also expressed her gratitude to be part of Tara Basa! Tutoring Program, as the CFW she received will augment her basic needs, personal necessities, and educational expenses.
“As a future educator, nagkaroon po ako ng first-hand experience wherein nakikita ko na po kung ano ang mga dapat kong gawin, ano yung mga dapat kong isaalang-alang if ever na maging educator po ako (I got a first-hand experience wherein I could see what I should do, what I should consider if ever I become an educator,” Arlene added.
Meanwhile, Allan Amores, one of the YDWs enrolled at the Navotas Polytechnic College, said he saw huge improvements among parents and guardians of struggling or non-reader elementary learners after conducting "Nanay-Tatay" sessions for eight days.
“Marami po talaga akong nakitang improvements sa mga parents, including na po doon yung mga parents na willing po talagang mag participate and active na po sa pagbibigay ng gabay at patnubay sa kanilang mga anak (I have really seen a lot of improvements among the parents, including those who are really willing to participate and are active in giving guidance and direction to their children),” he said.
The Tara Basa! Tutoring Program also provides cash aid worth PHP 235 per day for 20 days to parents by attending "Nanay-Tatay" module sessions, rendering assistance in preparing the needs of their children for learning and reading sessions, assisting them in their after-reading session assignments, and attending parent effectiveness sessions as well as other related activities.
This is one of the features of the program to strengthen the family and community support systems of elementary learners who are struggling to read or are non-readers. (PNA)
