Timorese shun teaching jobs

DILI, East Timor: Most East Timorese shun the teaching profession and the province has had to bring in teachers from other parts of Indonesia.

M. Soekarman of the East Timor Education Office said most East Timorese find the profession unattractive. "Only a few high school graduates say they want to become teachers," he was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

Soekarman said the local government is giving priority to the recruitment of East Timorese teachers to fill vacancies. Any shortages will be filled with teachers recruited from outside the province. (05)