East Timor still applies RI education system

East Timor still applies RI education system

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Dili

East Timor still applies the Indonesian education system
although it has been separated from the country since 1999 and
will become an independent country in May.

Except in its kindergartens, all schools there have maintained
the Indonesian curricula which was designed by the Indonesian
Ministry of National Education.

They also use the Indonesian language as the medium of
instruction and other languages -- English, Tetum and Portugal --
are accepted as the formal languages for communication.

Students of elementary, junior and senior high schools in
Baucau, Viqueque, Lautem, Manatutu, Ermera and Dili continue to
wear school uniforms similar to those of Indonesia's.

Elementary school students were seen using white and red
uniforms, students of junior high schools wear white and dark
blue, while those of the senior high schools wear white and gray.
What makes them different are that the East Timorese students do
not use the Indonesian education symbols.

Emanuel Ricardo, the principal of the Catholic junior high
school Conis Santana confirmed that East Timor's schools still
applied the Indonesian curricula and used the Indonesian school
uniforms.

"The difference is that we have made the Indonesian language
the medium of instruction. But for other purposes we use Tetum,
Portugal and English languages. We also maintain the uniforms we
used to use when we were part of Indonesia," he told The Jakarta
Post in Railako last Thursday.

Asked about the future education of East Timor, Emanuel said
that the new country lacked funds to develop its education
system.

"Some 80 percent of schools here have opened their classes.
But they are facing many problems, including financial problems
and a shortage of professional teachers and facilities," he said.

"We have 398 students and only 12 teachers. But some of them
are elementary school teachers and only senior high school
graduates. We're very concerned about the situation we are
facing. But what's important now is that the learning process
continues. Maybe, education will be given attention when we have
a new government in May," he said.

A number of students told The Jakarta Post that they were
confused with the education system currently applied in East
Timor.

"We only rely on what is taught by our teachers during
classes. There are no textbooks for sale. We're also required to
pay a tuition of US$1 per month," said Fernando, who was
accompanied by his classmates Amaral and Thomas Araujo, who are
all the students of Santana Railaku, a Catholic junior high
school.

Data from the press office of the United Nations Transitional
Administration in East Timor (Untaet) in Dili shows that East
Timor has 700 elementary schools, 100 junior and senior high
schools, 40 kindergartens, and 10 vocational schools, with a
total student population of 240,000 and 6,000 teachers.

The temporary administrative head in Ermera district, Victor
dos Santos, said that to develop education in East Timor, from
October 2001, Untaet had conducted an education survey, training
programs and sponsored many of the teachers to finish their
university education.

He hopes that all government agencies in East Timor will
prioritize education. "I do hope that all parties will give a
hand in developing education here," he said.