Volunteers return to tutor students in barangays
What motivates young professionals and student volunteers to spend ten weeks in the barangays tutoring junior public high school students in English and Math?
For returning volunteer tutor Novie Palao, she is fueled by personal and professional growth. She says, “I saw that volunteering for the program was for my own benefit. As a teacher, I realized it wasn’t just a matter of being paid but it was about loving your chosen craft. I wanted to be an inspiration to these young learners and help motivate them in their studies.”
Novie is one among the many Volunteer Tutors of the KA•T•ON Barangay Junior Public High School Tutorial Program with Entrepreneurship Exposure who have dedicated their time, effort, and expertise for multiple cycles. Every program cycle is equivalent to one grading period in the public schools. Volunteer Tutors commit to tutor Grade 7 to 10 students in the barangays for 10 consecutive Saturdays for two hours, and on Wednesdays for one hour for the Homework Assistance session. Tutors teach English and Math on a 1 tutor to 5 student ratio, allowing them to focus on the unique learning challenges of each tutee.
Prior to volunteering, the tutors join a mandatory enabling and equipping workshop called the IMPACT Volunteer Tutor Certification Workshop facilitated by Barangay IMPACT Visayas Management and Support Services, the same corporation that designed the tutorial program. Last January 27, 2017, the 13 Volunteer Tutors of Batch 11 along with 6 returning tutors participated in the whole-day intensive workshop held at the Diamond Suites and Residences in Cebu City. The six returning volunteers, other than Novie, are Bryan Modina, Christele Basco, Jinalyn Garcia, Abigail Malagar, and Jay Deocampo have all volunteered for an average of four cycles. The Volunteer Tutors held their first tutorial session on February 5, in the various Partner Barangays of Barangay IMPACT Management in Cebu City and Mandaue City.
The KA•T•ON Barangay Junior Public High School Tutorial Program with Entrepreneurship Exposure aims to arrest the alarming 57 percent dropout rate nationwide by motivating public high school students to #stayinschool.