CATBALOGAN CITY, PHILIPPINES — Samar State University (SSU) forged a partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Samar Provincial Government, and Northwest Samar State University during the launch of the ‘Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program’ at the Tandaya Hall, Catbalogan City, Samar on April 19 (24).
The University President, Dr. Redentor S. Palencia, joined DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Samar Provincial Governor Hon. Sharee Ann Tan, Congressman to the 2nd District of Samar Hon. Reynolds Michael Tan, and Northwest Samar State University President Dr. Benjamin L. Pecayo during the Launching and Ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement for the ‘Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program’, an educational initiative of DSWD aimed at promoting early literacy for Filipino children while providing extra income opportunities to college students.
Dr. Redentor S. Palencia stated that SSU recognizes the power of reading skills in producing a rich human resource. He added that the ‘Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program’ will strengthen the common goal of making the Philippines a reading nation. He expressed firm conviction that reading can create positive change for Samar, the Philippines, and the world. On behalf of Samar State University, he expressed unwavering support for the DSWD Tara, Basa! Program, believing that through this program, dreams will be fulfilled, leading to the upliftment of the socio-economic lives of Filipinos.
According to DSWD, the program is a Learning Ecosystem where college students are capacitated and will be deployed as tutors and youth development workers. It involves capacitating college students to serve as tutors and youth development workers through a cash-for-work intervention. The program focuses on aiding struggling readers among elementary students, strengthening family and community support systems, supporting college students in difficult circumstances, and improving reading proficiency among struggling or non-readers.
Samar Province is one of the ten areas targeted for expansion, together with NCR, Bulacan Province, Malolos City, San Jose Del Monte City, Quezon Province, Cebu City, Marawi City, Taraka, Lanao Del Sur, and General Santos City.