- DSWD expands the Tara Basa! literacy and tutoring program to additional areas across the CALABARZON region
- More than 6,000 students, parents, and college student tutors are expected to benefit from the education initiative
- The program aims to improve reading skills, strengthen parent participation in learning, and provide training opportunities for youth tutors
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is expanding its Tara Basa! Tutoring Program across CALABARZON this May 2026 to help improve reading skills among young students and strengthen family participation in education.
The program will support more than 6,000 beneficiaries, including incoming Grade 2 students identified as struggling readers, their parents, and college students serving as tutors. The student tutors will lead reading sessions while receiving educational assistance from the government.
As part of the initiative, DSWD Field Office IV-A has started distributing learner kits filled with school supplies such as notebooks, pencils, crayons, sharpeners, erasers, backpacks, and other basic materials needed during the 20-day reading tutorials. Program officials said the learning kits are expected to encourage stronger participation and improve student engagement during sessions.
In Bacoor City, Cavite, around 1,000 parents have already pledged support for the program through special Nanay-Tatay sessions. These activities aim to help parents guide and support their children’s learning more effectively at home. The initiative also creates opportunities for college students to gain teaching experience and youth development skills. To prepare them, DSWD conducted training sessions for 1,673 college students who will work as tutors and youth development workers.
Also Read: China Imposes Mandarin Education On Tibetan Preschoolers
Originally launched in Quezon province and Bacoor City in 2024, the program has now expanded to Calaca City in Batangas and several areas in Laguna, including Sta. Cruz, Cavinti, and Cabuyao City. The program is being implemented with support from local governments, schools, and higher education institutions. DSWD said the initiative aims to improve literacy, strengthen family engagement, and build stronger community support for children’s education and development.
