Taking off from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) programs cited by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday (July 28), Secretary Rex Gatchalian expounded on the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program, citing it as a win-win solution that supports college students in need while directly addressing the country’s literacy challenges.
“Sabi nga ng Pangulo natin kahapon, ‘yung mga ate at mga kuya natin na nagsisilbing volunteer tutors—ngayon, binibigyan na natin ng compensation para maging bahagi ng solution para masugpo ang illiteracy o ‘yung kahirapan na magbasa. In short, it’s an education assistance, pero may taya sila, nagtatrabaho sila, bahagi sila ng nation building,” Secretary Gatchalian said during the Post-SONA Discussion on Health and Social Protection at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center in San Juan City on Tuesday (July 29).
Launched in 2023 and institutionalized in 2024, the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program (TBTP) transforms traditional educational assistance through a cash-for-work mechanism. College students can either be tapped as volunteer tutors or Youth Development Workers (YDWs).
As tutors, the students are capacitated to help Grade 2 public school learners who are struggling to read, while the YDWs are engaged in helping their parents be more effective at-home teachers.
“Dati-rati kasi, ang nakagisnan na education assistance—pupunta sa DSWD ‘yung mga mahihirap nating mga college students, humihingi ng tulong financial para mabayaran ‘yung matrikula sa kanilang mga paaralan para maka-graduate. Wala namang masama sa education assistance, pero binago natin ‘yung konsepto at ginawa nating kondisyonal,” the DSWD chief explained.
Under the program, students will conduct 2-hour sessions for 20 days and are compensated with the full day’s minimum wage. It is meticulously designed to let beneficiaries balance their time for their learning and community service.
Secretary Gatchalian said that beyond empowering students financially, the TBTP enhances their role in nation-building and sense of social responsibility.
“Sa kasalukuyan, mga 35,000 na mahihirap na college students na ang na-enlist natin sa programa na ito at kulang-kulang na 350,000 na mga bata na nahihirapan magbasa na o hindi marunong magbasa ang nakinabang na pati na ang kanilang mga magulang,” the DSWD chief said in an interview on the sideline of the post-SONA discussion.
Secretary Gatchalian said the DSWD will sustain the upscaling of the implementation of the 3-year-old program across the country until all regions already have this initiative up and running for their financially-challenged youth, struggling readers, and their parents.
President Marcos cited the Tara, Basa! in his SONA, calling it as a promising program that prepares college students for their future careers.
“Ipagpatuloy pa ninyo ang mga ganitong klaseng internship at pre-employment program para sa ating estudyante sa kolehiyo. Malaking tulong ito sa kanila habang sila ay nag-aaral. Malaking tulong ito sa bansa,” the President said in his SONA. (LSJ)