AT LEAST  132 public schools in Eastern Visayas are now implementing the expanded Tara, Basa! (Let’s Read!) tutoring program meant to aid struggling learners and assist college students in exchange for their tutorial services, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported on Friday.

Of the total number, 84 schools are in Samar, 32 in Tacloban City, and 16 in Ormoc City, accommodating 1,512 college students, 5,040 learners, and 5,040 parents.

As its counterpart, the Department of Education (DepEd) allowed the use of their classrooms and other facilities starting May 20 for the 20-day session until June 14, just before the new school year starts.

The DepEd also assists in monitoring the learning sessions and provides technical support to college students.

“The program is a collaborative effort between the DepEd and DSWD designed to provide shortL-term employment and educational opportunities to underprivileged college students from state universities and local colleges through cash-for-work,” the DSWD said in a statement.

Under the program, qualified college students from low-income families are deployed as tutors and youth development workers (YDWs) to conduct reading tutorials for struggling or non-reader pupils and carry out sessions for the parents of learners.

In return, they will receive a daily pay equivalent to the prevailing minimum wage (PHP435) in the region for 20 days within the first half of 2025.

Parents attending the sessions, with topics including effective parenting, dynamics of Filipino families, challenges in parenting and children’s rights, will receive a daily allowance of PHP235.

The measure is a reformatted educational assistance program for college students from low-income families. (PNA)