DSWD eyes ‘Tara, Basa!’ program expansion nationwide

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now working on the possible institutionalization of its “Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program,” which was designed to assist “struggling or non-reader” grade school learners.

The program will be expanded in some areas outside Metro Manila next year due to its “successful implementation,” according to DSWD Undersecretary Eduardo Punay.

“We are super proud of this project not just because of the result, but also even before the results came, the design itself, of the project, is very sought after,” Punay said.

He noted that the DSWD has not completed the pilot implementation of the program yet, “but we are getting so many requests from local government units (LGUs) for transfer.”

“That’s how big LGUs see the potential of this program,” he added.

The DSWD official said their allies at the House of Representatives will move to file a “Tara, Basa!” bill that will expand the program nationwide.

Under the program, college students from low-income families are given financial aid in exchange for being tutors to grade schoolers.

The program is also aimed at addressing the learning losses to reduce vulnerability among children and mitigate the scarring caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the eight-point socioeconomic agenda of the Marcos administration.

Based on the Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment of the Department of Education, there is a significant decrease in the number of students classified as full refresher.