101,000 illiterate in East Timor

101,000 illiterate in East Timor

DILI: About 101,000 East Timorese aged between 10 and 44 years
are illiterate, local education office chief Andry Sutardi said
Saturday.

Andry said the local government had initiated literacy
courses in Baucau and Dili.

The Dili training center serves people from nine regencies in
the western half of the province. The regencies are Liquisa,
Aileu, Ermera, Ainaro, Same, Kovalima, Bobonaro, Ambeno and Dili.

The center in Baucau offers out-of-school classes for people
from the eastern regions of Baucau, Manatuto, Viqueque and
Lautem.

"The courses are open for every resident who wants to learn
how to read and write," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

The courses also taught entrepreneurial skills, and
participants interested in starting small businesses were
eligible to government aid, he added. (pan)