In the Philippine public school system, countless students face barriers to academic success, from severe learning gaps in literacy to emotional and social challenges. Teach for the Philippines (TFP) recognized this need for foundational support and created the Tara, Kaya! Program (TKP)—an integrated model designed to help vulnerable learners strengthen literacy skills and foster essential life skills for personal growth and resilience.
TKP was borne out of success stories like that of Sophia’s, a Grade 3 student from Victorias, Negros Occidental. When Sophia first joined TFP’s Functional Literacy Program, she faced significant hurdles. Despite her curiosity, her reading skills lagged, and financial limitations meant she could only attend school a few times a week. Sophia struggled with confidence, often discouraged by her challenges. But through the program’s highly-focused and contextualized approach to teaching literacy, she began to make remarkable strides.
Our Teacher Fellow deployed to Sophia’s school, Alejandro Acuña Yap Quiña Memorial Elementary School, does regular home visits to Sofia’s community as part of their roll-out of the Functional Literacy Program.
Sophia’s Journey: Growth Beyond the Classroom
Sophia’s progress was clear even within her first year in the program, but her second year truly marked a transformation. By the end of the program, Sophia’s literacy had improved by 87%, allowing her to read and understand longer passages—a milestone neither she nor her family had anticipated. The impact of her progress rippled through her personal life as well. Inspired by Sophia’s dedication, her mother joined TFP’s Gabay (Guardian) workshops, designed to help parents foster a positive learning environment at home. This new family commitment to learning strengthened their bond: Sophia’s mother began studying for her own certification through the Alternative Learning System (ALS)—a program designed to help out-of-school youth and adults achieve basic education outside the formal classroom. Together, they encouraged each other in their academic journeys. Sophia’s story highlights how TKP’s holistic approach empowers students and involves families in a shared path toward growth and learning.
Sophia enjoying her lessons with a peer from the program.
A Unified Approach: Building Academic and Life Skills
Sophia’s journey is just one example of how TFP’s literacy and life skills programs address the comprehensive needs of at-risk students. Launched in 2023, TKP draws on TFP’s prior success with the Functional Literacy Program (FLP) and Batang Bayani Program (BBP), combining them into a holistic strategy that supports both academic and social-emotional development. This unified approach allows students like Sophia to strengthen both their literacy and socio-emotional skills, equipping them to overcome personal and academic barriers.
TKP’s broader impact is evident in its measurable outcomes. According to recent data, TKP students have achieved an average increase of 45% in literacy, with scores rising from a baseline of 36% to an endline score of 81%. Numeracy outcomes have shown similar success, with average scores increasing from 35% to 90% at endline. These improvements signify not only academic progress but also the growing confidence and enthusiasm students like Sophia feel toward learning.
Building Toward Lasting Change
As TFP continues to monitor and refine TKP, the program’s early successes underscore its potential for broader application. By focusing on small groups, TKP ensures that students receive personalized support, but TFP’s mission goes beyond these initial successes. The organization is exploring partnerships that could replicate TKP’s model across more schools in the Philippines, expanding its reach to an even larger number of students who face similar challenges.
For those interested in supporting TKP or learning how to bring this transformative program to more communities, please reach out to TFP’s Development Team at development.team@teachforthephilippines.org.
Read the full Student Report here to learn more about the Tara, Kaya! Program’s significant positive outcomes and inspiring success stories like Sophia’s.