DILI, 12 september 2022 (TATOLI) – Cuba expressed its wiliness to continue supporting the government in the fight against illiteracy in the country.
The Caribbean country has supported Timor-Leste in the combat against illiteracy called “Yes, I can”, “Yes, I Can Follow” and “Yes, I can Read.”
Chargé D’Affaires of the Cuban Embassy in Dili, José Ernesto Díaz Pérez said that in his recent meeting with the Minister of Education, he conveyed Cuban willingness to support Timor-Leste in the combat against illiteracy.
“The program we call “Yes, I can” is not the only program that Cuba has supported Timor-Leste in the fight against illiteracy. But we also have two additional programs, namely “Yes, I can follow” and “Yes, I can read”. These two programs aimed to strengthen and improve basic literacy and numeracy skills. These programs are designed to support those who had participated in the ‘Yes, I can’ program,” Pérez told TATOLI at his office, in Dili, on Monday.
He said both parties are willing to cooperate on the illiteracy elimination program, saying, therefore, it can be implemented in the near future: “The embassy of Cuba in Timor-Leste is open to cooperation with the Government of Timor-Leste to carry out the program,” Pérez emphasized.
Last week, the Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports, Armindo Maia also expressed his wiliness to cooperate with Cuban Embassy in Dili on the illiteracy elimination program.
“It is important for Timor-Leste to ensure that at least all Timorese can write, read and understand simple written texts,” said Minister Maia.
The literacy rate in Timor-Leste has been increasing rapidly due to the significant progress made by the government and development partners.
According to Timor-Leste’s 2015 census: “Literacy has been rapidly improving in Timor-Leste. The adult literacy rate is 68.7 percent for men and 60.2 percent for women. By comparison, the youth literacy rate is much higher at 84.7 for young men and 84.1 for young women, illustrating the improvement as well as the closure of the gender gap.”
“The Government of Timor-Leste will continue to create conditions to make it easier for citizens to know how to write and read,” Maia said.
He added that the first government program to combat illiteracy in the country was called the ‘Alfabetização Solidária’ program: “This program was supported by the Government of Brazil.
“After some time, the program was transformed into “Yes, I can or Sim Eu Posso”, which was supported by the Government of Cuba. Later, the program was again transformed into Alafanamor and then Alfanatic,” Maia said.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
