Tutorial program wins nod of parents in Mandaue

Juliet Buhawe of Barangay Centro in Mandaue City expressed her excitement that KA•T•ON Barangay Junior Public High School Tutorial Program with Entrepreneurship Exposure has partnered with their barangay. She feels it will be a more productive way for her daughter to spend her Saturday mornings.

Juliet’s eldest child, Yeisha Ashley, is already diligent in class. She feels then that the program implementation in her barangay is timely. Yeisha now has access to free tutorials every Saturday and homework assistance every Wednesday.

Last November 11, parents from Barangay Centro in Mandaue City eagerly registered their kids as the 20 pioneering beneficiaries of the KA•T•ON Barangay Junior Public High School Tutorial Program with Entrepreneurship Exposure.

Headed by Barangay Impact Visayas Management and Support Services Corporation, this program was designed to address the the alarming 57 percent dropout rate nationwide by motivating public high school students to stay in school.

It engages 40 junior public high school students per barangay per cycle, equivalent to one grading period in the public schools. Annually, the program covers four regular cycles and one six-week summer cycle.

As it is the first cycle of the program to be implemented in Barangay Centro - Mandaue, the 20 Grade 7 to 10 students were handpicked by the barangay to be the 1st batch of tutees. On August 26, the barangay entered into a partnership with Barangay Impact Management, making it the pilot barangay for Mandaue City.

Barangay Impact Management has partnered with four other barangays in Cebu City - Barangay Luz, Barangay Apas, Barangay Guadalupe, and Barangay Cogon - Ramos.

CEO Monica Alipe Enriquez shared the program’s objectives and mechanics during the Parents and Beneficiaries Orientation. She assured the parents that the children will be assisted by Impact Certified Volunteer Tutors in English and Math. The values of respect, punctuality, neatness & organization and gratitude will also be instilled.

Juliet hopes to register her son next year when he enters Grade 7.

Juliet (1st row, far left) and other parents, having been convinced to fully support the program, excitedly raise their hands to show that they aspire to have a brighter future for their kids.