The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here has kicked off its 20-day tutorial program to enhance the reading capabilities of elementary students in Samar province.

Dubbed “Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program” (TBTP), it will deploy 375 tutors and youth development workers (YDWs) to help improve the reading capabilities of 2,000 struggling elementary pupils and carry out family development sessions for parents or guardians.

“As per TBTP guidelines, each tutor will handle a maximum of 10 learners and one YDW for a maximum of 50 parents or guardians,” the DSWD regional office here said in a statement Tuesday.

In return for their service, tutors and YDWs will receive a PHP405 daily pay, equivalent to the prevailing daily minimum wage in the region, for their 20-day work.

This is on top of the capacity development and service credits they will earn after the program.

Last week, each of the identified tutors and YDWs from Samar State University in Catbalogan City and Northwest Samar State University in Calbayog City received PHP2,000 to support their needs during their deployment to their assigned schools.

Tutors and YDWs are college students from poor families. Tutors will focus on teaching children to read, while YDWs are tasked with empowering parents as their first teachers at home.

Parents and guardians of child beneficiaries are also provided with PHP235 daily under the cash-for-work scheme by the DSWD. The cash rewards parents and guardians for attending these sessions and for assisting their children in preparing their needs for learning and reading and in their after-reading assignments. (PNA)