The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources (MPRM) is focussing on improving the English language ability of youths in Timor-Leste to prepare them for future employment at the Suai Supply Base.
The MPRM’s Scholarship Program Coordinator, Ana Lucinda, said students undertake English Language studies for twelve months.
“We are focussing on youths from the District of Suai so they can work at the supply base there,” said Coordinator Lucinda in Dili.
She added the MPRM has also provided opportunities for graduates of petroleum engineering and geology to improve their English language skills at the St. Joseph Engineering College in Mangalore, India.
She said currently 96 scholarship recipients are attending English language training in India.
Meanwhile the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Alfredo Pires, said English language is very important for the petroleum and minerals industry so there is a need to prepare young people in the country in the language to help develop the natural resources sector.
“We face a specific problem in that a student finishes his or her studies in Indonesia, in the area of petroleum and has very good knowledge but he cannot work in the field because he or she does not speak English,” said Minister Pires.
He added the English language program being run in Suai is a very positive initiative with results showing students are able to understand and speak English within one year.
Meanwhile, youth Benjamin da Costa, congratulated this initiative and urged the government to not spend so much money sending students overseas.
The government does not need to send them internationally to learn English,” he said.
