In a meaningful collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) students are actively participating in the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program. The initiative aims to support elementary school children who struggle with reading, helping them overcome educational barriers.
The Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program is a community-based social protection initiative designed to assist low-income families while offering college students a chance to contribute to nation-building. Through the program, students are empowered to serve as tutors and Youth Development Workers (YDWs) under a Cash-for-Work scheme, enabling them to support both educational and social development.
Each beneficiary enrolled in their second to fourth year of college will receive an honorarium of P535.00 per day, which represents compensation for 20 reading sessions or “Nanay-Tatay” teacher sessions. Students from the BA Education program at EVSU underwent a five-day capability building and will be assigned as tutors to provide reading assistance to underprivileged children in public elementary schools, which will start in May 2025.
Additionally, as YDWs, they lead parenting sessions aimed at equipping parents and guardians with essential knowledge on child care, protection, and early education. By teaching parents to be their children’s first educators at home, the program seeks to create a holistic support system for the students.
This initiative not only improves literacy rates but also promotes community involvement and enables students to play an active role in social development, creating a positive influence both in the classroom and at home.
On February 11, 2025, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducted a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony for the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program between the City Government of Tacloban, the Department of Education, the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), and Leyte Normal University.
Written by: JF Ruedas | UMDC
Photos by: MH Java, G Becera | UMDC
