DILI, 20 october 2022 – Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO (KNTLU), together with the Korean National Commission for UNESCO (KNCU), the South Korean Government, the Ministry of Education, and local communities inaugurated the Fitun Community Learning Center in Hatolia A Administrative Post, Ermera Municipality.
The inauguration ceremony of the two classrooms Community Learning Center (CLC) was attended by the Secretary General of KNCU, Kyung Koo Han, the Executive Secretary of KNTLU, Francisco Barreto, the Director-General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture (MHESC), Maria Filomena Guterres Lay, the President of the Parliamentary Commission G, António Verdial Sousa, the Administrator of Hatolia A Administrative Post, Luis Manuel and local communities.
The budget for the construction of the Community Learning Centre was provided by the Korean Government through National Commission for UNESCO to construct 16 Community Learning Centers across the country.
“Like Timor-Leste, Korea experienced colonial rule and war. So, everything was destroyed during the war and Korea was extremely poor. But UNESCO and the United Nations, together with several other countries, helped to build Korea’s Education System. So, we worked hard and thanks to the support of UNESCO, we could rebuild our country. So now we are trying to help others because Korea was helped by others. We hope that one day, Timor-Leste will be able to help others in the future,” said Kyung Koo Han after the inauguration of the CLC in Hatolia A, Ermera, today.
He said education will open the door to development, “We decided to build the local community learning center because many people in rural areas are excluded from education as they have fewer opportunities to learn.”
“The construction of this CLC will help communities access basic human rights. We hope that this CLC will help the communities of Hatolia A to learn, grow and prosper,” he stressed.
He said the inauguration of the Hatolia Center was an important step in strengthening the universal right to education of the people in Ermera municipality: “I strongly believe that the development of a nation starts with the development of its communities, and the development of a community begins with the development of individuals.”
Currently, six teachers are teaching basic literacy and numeracy skills to 60 illiterate students at the center.
The Executive Secretary of KNTLU, Francisco Barreto said the Fitun CLC was part of the 5-year project (2020-2024) supported by KNCU to combat illiteracy, improve life skills, and recover lost learning in Timor-Leste: “The Korean Government, through KNCU supported us with US$1 million to implement the three programs.”
Barreto said the literacy program aimed to facilitate illiterate Timorese with basic literacy and numeracy skills.
Meanwhile, the equivalent education program is designed to make it easier for those who dropped out of school during a difficult situation to obtain the equivalent certificates to continue their secondary education and university diplomas.
The Life Skills Programme focuses on English and Portuguese language learning and computer literacy.
“So far, we have inaugurated five CLCs, including two in Bobonaro municipality, one in Covalima, one in Dili, and one in Ermera-Hatulia A, which we inaugurated today,” Barreto said.
He added two CLCs that will be inaugurated in the near future, including one in Ainaro, and another in the municipality of Viqueque: Meanwhile, the construction of the other three Community Learning Centres in Manufahi, Baucau, and RAEOA is in progress and would be concluded within 2022.”
Luis Manuel, the Administrator of Hatolia A Administrative Post thanked the South Korean Government, KNCU, and KNTLU for the construction of the CLC.
“It will help our illiterate communities to learn basic literacy and numeracy skills. It will also help our youth to learn computer literacy, Portuguese, and the English language. We need to find someone to teach our children the Korean language as well.” Because, if they can communicate well in the Korean language, I believe that one day they can go and work in South Korea. Therefore, this CLC will bring a brighter future for our future generation,” he said.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
