Marilyn Cahatol

Student tutors assist grade 1 pupils at San Vicente Elementary School in Quezon City on July 9, 2024. The Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program, which will run until July 26, taps 2nd year and 3rd year college students to work as tutors and youth development workers (YDWs) to help early learners polish their reading and comprehension skills.
The project also provides short-term work for financially challenged college students, allowing them to earn money through teaching and assisting parent-tutors.

Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Tara, Baras Tutoring Program

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175793456256720240709-tara-basa-student-tutors-JC5350.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Student tutors assist grade 1 pupils at San Vicente Elementary School in Quezon City on July 9, 2024. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Over 348,000 young Filipinos were taught how to read and improve their literacy since the government launched its flagship reading tutorial program, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday at the event’s culminating activity in Taguig City.</p><p>The “Tara, Basa!” program—a partnership between the Department of Education and the Department of Social Welfare and Development—hires college students and other learned Filipinos on a cash-for-work basis to teach youngsters how to read since its inception over 2 years ago.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/08/02/23/reading-program-launched-for-grade-school-students">Reading program launched for grade school students</a></div><p>“Ang tagumpay ng ‘Tara, Basa!’ ay bunga ng pagkakaisa kaya sa magigiting na tutors at youth development workers, ipinapaabot ko ang aming taos-pusong pasasalamat sa inyo. Kayo ang bumubuhay sa programang ito,” Marcos said in his speech.</p><p>“Ngayong araw, ipinakita natin na kaya nating pagtagumpayan ang anumang hamon kung tapat tayong naglilingkod sa taumbayan at ginagamit natin nang tama ang salapi ng ating bansa,” he said.</p><p>The President described the program as an avenue that fosters a “symbiotic relationship between the teacher and the student.”</p><p>“Every time you teach a class, you learn so much more because what you are teaching the students, alam mo na iyon,” he said.</p><p>“But, somehow students still find a way to find new things, to find different things that hindi mo naisip dati, hindi pa naituro sa iyo at ang naging estudyante mo, sila pa ang nagtuturo sa iyo,” he said.</p><p>The “Tara, Basa!” started in 2022 when Marcos first rose to power, and was later institutionalized under Executive Order No. 76 that was signed in November 2024.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/1/how-many-filipinos-were-functionally-literate-in-2024-how-many-were-illiterate-1438">How many Filipinos were functionally literate in 2024? How many were illiterate?</a></div><p>Under the program, the DSWD pays each tutor wages equivalent to the regional daily minimum after 20 completed sessions.</p><p>The program was designed to help students catch up on their reading and comprehension skills, especially young learners whose literacy may have been stunted due to limited learning sessions during the pandemic.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2025/9/4/knowledge-channel-foundation-launches-estudyantipid-to-teach-kids-financial-literacy-1408">Knowledge Channel launches &#x27;Estudyantipid&#x27; to teach kids financial literacy</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CsEjIH5Gijg?si=4zwvPVTSTjiRFILn" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Over 348,000 young Filipinos were taught how to read and improve their literacy since the government launched its flagship reading tutorial program, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday at the event’s culminating activity in Taguig City.</p>

Over 348,000 young Filipinos were taught how to read and improve their literacy since the government launched its flagship reading tutorial program, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday at the event’s culminating activity in Taguig City.

Over 348,000 young Filipinos benefit from government’s cash-for-work reading, literacy program

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Over 348,000 young Filipinos benefit from government’s cash-for-work reading, literacy program

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 15, 2025 07:44 PM PHT

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Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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Basa!

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