New Projects to Improve Access to Education and Quality of Learning for Over 300,000 Students
Dili, September 7, 2012 – Today the Ministry of Education and the World Bank, launched three education projects to help improve access and quality of education, set to benefit more than 300,000 students in basic education alone as well as the country’s over 10,000 teachers. The projects are being supported by grants from the World Bank, AusAID and the Global Partnership for Education.
Timor-Leste has achieved significant progress in the education during the past decade. Now 90 percent of relevantagechildren are enrolled in primary school and more children are staying in school, with three quarters completing all primary grades in 2010. More Timorese are able to read and write, with literacy rates among 15-24 year olds increasing by 70 percent between 2001 and 2007.
Despite significant achievements, challenges remain in ensuring that education is of high quality and supports the most effective learning for all students. Currently many children have to repeat grades, particularly in their early years of schooling.
The World Bank is committed to aligning our continued support to the education sector to help improve quality of learning across the country,” said Hans Anand Beck, Acting Country Manager of the World Bank in Timor-Leste. “We recognize that investing in education is immensely significant for future generations and national development, especially in a country where young people now make up a third of the population.”
The three projects – the Management Strengthening Project (USD 2.8 million); the Second Chance Education Project (USD 5 million) and the additional financing for the Education Sector Support Project (USD 3 million) - will support the Ministry of Education to build and rehabilitate basic schools across the country, with increased community participation; improve adult literacy programs through strengthening the non-formal education sector; help train staff, develop school curricula and strengthen management capacity in the Ministry of Education to achieve the Government’s National Education Strategic Plan goals
The World Bank has been supporting the education and training sector in Timor-Leste since 2000, through financial as well as technical assistance. In recent years, the support has focused on expanding access to primary and secondary education through improving school facilities and learning and teaching materials, and strengthening the quality of learning through teacher training and curriculum development.
These projects are being financed by grants from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) with support from other donors including Australia and the Global Partnership for Education. . These projects will be implemented by the Ministry of Education (MoE) over the next 3-5 years.
