The Director General of the Ministry of Education, Antoninho Pires said 1180 teachers have sat for their subject aptitude and language proficiency tests.
He added that teachers need to demonstrate their aptitude to teach their subject and also their Portuguese language proficiency because the ministry has invested much in Portuguese language courses for teachers.
“The focus is on Portuguese because the curriculum is in Portuguese so all teachers are required to teach in the language,” said DG Pires from his office in Vila Verde, Dili.
He said also that the ministry needs to be able to prove that all teachers are able to teach in Portuguese because this is an issues the public regularly questions.
“They have attended Portuguese language courses so it is time for them to teach in it.”
He added the ministry intends to keep providing Portuguese language courses and test teachers afterwards through tests.
Meanwhile the President of Commission F (for health, education, culture, veteran affairs and gender equality), Member of Parliament MP Virgilio da Costa Hornai testing teachers abilities including with Portuguese language is very important.
“In order to have quality teachers, we need to conduct assessment tests to determine their merit an capacity to teach students,” said MP Hornai.
Teacher Agostu Mendes said testing is very good because it allows them to know their proficiency and ability with the Portuguese language.
“As part of the test we have to write an essay about the 28 November celebrations in Tasi Tolu. Also about what teaching methodology we use to teach in Portuguese language.”
He urged the Ministry of Education to establish an independent panel based on rigorous regulation for testing and assessing teachers.
