DSWD, Samar provincial govt enters agreement to improve literacy among students

‘Tara Basa Tutoring Program’

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the provincial government of Samar entered a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the ‘Tara, Basa Tutoring Program’ in the province.

The agreement was signed by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Governor Sharee Ann Tan on Friday (April 19).

Also present during the occasion were Rep. Reynolds Michael Tan(2nd district) and Samar State University (SSU) president Redentor Palencia; and Northwest Samar State University (NSSU) president Benjamin Pecayo, represented by its university vice president for academic affairs, Ramil Catamora, among others.

The agreement is part of the ongoing expansion of DSWD’s reformatted educational assistance in more areas across different regions.

“We believe we need to end illiteracy (in the country),” Gatchalian said in his speech prior to the MOA signing attended by 24 mayors in Samar, and beneficiaries of the program.

The Tara, Basa Tutoring Program of the DSWD targets to eradicate learning poverty in the country at the same time helps college students by giving them financial assistance for joining as tutors.

College students who will participate as tutors will be paid P415 per day for 20 days duration of the program.

At least 400 students from the SSSU and NwSSU were selected to tutor 2,000 elementary students who are struggling to read.

They will be joined by 40 youth development workers throughout the duration of the program.

To make the program sustainable parents will have to join the ‘Nanay-Tatay Parenting Program’ or teaching program where they will be trained as first teachers at home.
They will receive P235 a day for attending the teaching session.

Gov. Tan, in her message, expressed her gratefulness to the DSWD for implementing the program in her province.

She also urges the mayors of Samar to support the program once it is cascaded to their respective localities.

Aside from Samar, the same program is also being implemented in San Jose Del Monte City, Malolos City, Bulacan Province, Cebu City, Marawi City, Taraka in Lanao Del Sur, Quezon province, and National Capital Region (NCR).
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)