DILI, 11 January 2022 (TATOLI)- The Secretary of State for Youth and Sports (SSYS) and Youth Parliament Alumni (AYPTL) launched the Youth Preference Survey for Education, Employment, and Community Participation (SPYEECP) reflecting the number of youth in Timor-Leste and their involvement in-country development.
The Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, Abrão Saldanha said that the 2015 population census of Timor-Leste revealed that 75% of Timor-Leste’s population aged 35 and below 35 are mostly young people, therefore it is important to involve them in any activities that contribute to the country. development.
“The government admits that the involvement of youth is very crucial to develop the country in the future and its necessary to involve the youths in public policy related to the interests and needs of youth. To respond to this condition the government need the accurate data to adjust with the needs of youths in Timor – Leste,” Saldanha told reporters in Hotel Timor, Colmera, Dili today.
According to Saldanha, the survey was conducted following the orientation of Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak to find out the preferences of young Timorese.
“This survey report provides useful information and data regarding youth preferences, formal education, training, youth for employment and preferences for community participation, therefore it provides important information to Government and Partners to develop appropriate public policies for youth in various sectors in Timor – Leste,” said Saldanha.
In the same place, the President of AYPTL, Zaulino Gomes da Silva said, this survey was carried out for 6 months from May to November 2021 and today is being launched to the public.
“We conducted this survey to identify the preferences of adolescents aged 15 to 24 years regarding education, work, and community participation, including their daily activities,” said Gomes.
Gomes explained that the survey was conducted in 12 municipalities including Oe-Cusse RAEOA with total funding of 30,000 USD supported by the United National International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and 2693 Timorese youth who had participated in the Survey.
Survey Outputs from SSoYS and AYPTL
Educational preferences:
56.31% of youth aged 15-24 years wish to continue their undergraduate education, 14.63% wish to complete master’s education and 8.65% want to complete Ph.D. education.
18.47% of youth in Timor – Leste do not have access to school and 60.24% wish to access education.
Preferences in the field of study:
50.98% of Timorese youth wish to study Technology and Natural Sciences.
82.46% of teenagers wish to take English courses and 13.24% of teenagers want to take horticulture training.
Sports is an extracurricular activity that is very attractive to young people.
4.98% chose agriculture and only 2.23% chose business.
Football, Volleyball, Basketball, and Futsal are very common modality sports for the youth of Timor – Leste.
1.40% of youth participated in Entrepreneurship, 4.01% of youth participated in Arts and Creativity and 4.93% participated in Agriculture.
Journalist : Camilio de Sousain
Editor: Nelia B
