THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Education have committed to continuing the implementation of the ‘Tara, Basa!’ tutoring program until 2028.

This follows the signing of a memorandum of agreement by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, formalizing their partnership.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao emphasized that the signing represents a renewed commitment to providing educational support for youth and making learning more accessible for struggling or non-reading students. She added that the MOA ensures the smooth execution of the program over the next four years.

Earlier, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed Executive Order No. 76, designating ‘Tara, Basa!’ as a flagship program of the national government. The order mandates the support of various government agencies and local government units and encourages the private sector to help establish a collaborative learning program aimed at providing educational opportunities for elementary students.

The executive order also requires the DSWD to work with the DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education, the National Youth Commission, state universities and colleges, local government units, and other stakeholders to successfully implement and expand the program.

The ‘Tara, Basa!’ program is a reformatted educational assistance initiative by the DSWD. It creates a learning ecosystem where college students are trained and deployed as tutors to teach struggling readers in public elementary schools, as well as youth development workers who facilitate nanay-tatay learning sessions for parents.

This year, a total of 120,359 college students, struggling or non-reading elementary students, and parents benefited from the program.