The Ministry of Education allocated $3.9 million out of the General State Budget 2013 to purchase tables and chairs for schools across Timor-Leste so students do not sit on the floor during classes.
The Minister of Education, Bendito Freitas, said the allocated funds are currently being verified by the National Procurement Commission (KNA) before the purchase can be undertaken.
“At the moment we are awaiting decision from the National Procurement Commission,” said the Minister Freitas in Dili.
He is hoping the commission will approved the funds quickly so the Ministry can go ahead with the purchase of the desks and chairs in October.
“We are hoping to be able to buy some 30,000 to 40,000 units,” added Minister Freitas.
Meanwhile the Deputy Director of NGO Luta Hamutuk, Joaozino Viana, said the government has not given the necessary attention to the education sector, given funds approved by the national level amount only to some 5.7 per cent of the overall state budget.
DD Viana added at this stage of national development the education sector should get at least 25 per cent of the state budget allocation yearly.
“We believe that with 25 per cent of total funds and with adequate implementation we can solve the issues affecting the education sector within five years.”
NGO Luta Hamutuk called on the government to increase the education funds to 25 per cent and give priority to the education sector.
During monitoring of schools across the country, Luta Hamutuk observed in many schools students still continue to sit of the ground during classes because schools lack desks and chairs.
“We went to Suai and we say students sitting on bamboo poles and on the floor. We saw the same in Ermera, in Liquidoe in Aileu,” said DD Viana.
In the meantime, João da Silva, a student of National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL) said it has been many years schools have been asking for desks and chairs but this issue has not been adequately addressed until now.
“We went to the districts and we saw schools falling apart and missing desks and chairs,” said the student.
He urged the Ministry of Education to address this issue immediately and monitor schools more adequately.
