PES Commences ‘Tara, Basa!’ Tutoring Program

The ‘Tara, Basa!’ Tutoring Program is a collaboration between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It is a holistic social welfare and development program that aims to assist learners who have difficulties learning to read or cannot read yet to improve their foundational reading skills while providing short-term employment and educational opportunities for financially challenged college students. This is the reformatted educational assistance of the DSWD designed to help and support college students from low-income families who are in difficult circumstances, help struggling or non-reader grade school learners who are vulnerable, at risk, or affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and equip parents and guardians to serve as "Nanay-Tatay Tutors".

Pinaglabanan Elementary School commenced this program on August 14, 2023. This event will last a total of 20 days, consisting of 9 weekdays and 11 Saturdays, starting at 8:00 a.m. –11:30 a.m. The staggered schedule is brought on by the fact that students and teachers will be using classrooms due to the opening of classes on August 29, 2023.

Assigned as the Focal Person was Mr. Carl Vincent L. Mengote, Administrative Aide 3. He accompanied the college students to their respective classrooms and introduced them to the learners and to their parents. Eight (8) fourth-year college students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) taking up an education course will tutor the 76 incoming Grade 2 learners who are struggling or are non-readers. Four (4) of them will each work with nine (9) students, while the other four (4) will work with ten (10) students. Meanwhile, two (2) third-year college students will serve as Youth Development Workers. They will train the parents or guardians to become Nanay-Tatay Tutors to their children at home. These college students who offered their time, effort, and share their knowledge will be compensated with a Cash for Work payment of Php570 each day for 20 days, while parents or guardians of struggling or non-reader elementary learners will also receive cash aid worth Php235 per day for 20 days by helping to prepare the needs of their children for learning and reading sessions, helping them in their after-result activities, and other related tasks.

Article Written by:

Wilma O. Rosales

Teacher III – Pinaglabanan Elementary School