Also available in: Tetum (.pdf)       by
Elisabeth Huybens
Country Manager
The World Bank
Dili, Timor-Leste, October 5, 2005   Dear Mr. Prime Minister Dr Mari Alkatiri Minister for Education Dr. Armindo Maia Officials of the Ministry of Education and Friends  1. On behalf of The World Bank and TFET donor partners we would like to congratulate all those involved in The Fundamental School Quality Project (FSQP) which celebrates an important milestone today. The FSQP which is financed by the Trust Fund for East Timor and administered by the World Bank was initiated on June 2003 and has recently finalized the construction of 60 schools - 56 escola primerias and four escola basicas throughout all districts.  2. The FSQP project is in the process of being extended through to June 2006 and by that time a total of 103 schools - 99 escola primerias and four escola basicas will be constructed and supplied with teacher’s  furniture, text books as well as water and sanitation where economically feasible.  3. A country’s education system however, needs more than infrastructure and requirement of supplies. It needs sound policies, good teachers and high quality education materials. The FSQP has provided support for Policy Development including the formulation of a curriculum for pre-secondary schools. It has also supported the articulation and execution of a National Education Policy Framework and Education Law.    4. FSQP has provided 55,000 text books in Portuguese to school children and Teachers Manuals for all primary schools. It has also financed the publication and distribution to all schools of Lafaek and Lafaek Ki’ik magazine in association with CARE International.  5. While celebrating this achievement I would like to underline our strong and continued support for Timor-Leste’s education program and the goals of the NDP and MDG of achieving Universal Primary Education for all by 2015. In order to cater to the needs of 20,000 new students by 2009, some 500 new classrooms will need to be constructed and 100 existing class rooms will need to be renovated over three years. An additional 600 new teachers would also need to be trained during that period to allow all Timorese children to attend primary school.   These are some of the challenges facing the education sector today and we would like to reiterate our partnership in helping Timor-Leste reach its goals.  I wish you continued success in your future endeavors, Thank you.    |
RSS