National Member of Parliament MP Virgilio da Costa Hornai said the foundations for a sound education in Timor-Leste are still lacking because there is a lack of basic teachers of exact sciences including of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology.
He said that many scholarship recipients are unable to complete their degrees overseas and are sent back home because they lack knowledge in basic sciences.
“Our education system from pre-school to secondary is still inadequate so we cannot yet compete with the education system of European nations,” said MP Hornai at the National Parliament, in Dili.
He added that this is a serious issue facing Timor-Leste and that solutions need to be found to improve the quality of schooling across the country.
“We must try and address these conditions and improve the quality of teachers; but it will take time for us to be able to compete with other nations.”
Meanwhile the Director General of the Ministry of Education, Antoninho Pires acknowledged that his ministry faces many challenges and not just with basic education or foundation studies.
“We provide teacher training in the exact sciences, in particular in mathematics, chemistry and physics and other subjects because we don’t yet have adequate mastery in these areas,” said DG Pires.
He added that in 2015 five recipients of scholarships to Portuguese universities dropped out because they did not have the foundations in sciences required.
He said the students had to come back not because of languages ability but because they did not have enough exact sciences knowledge.
“If we are not able to master the exact sciences we will not be able to compete internationally,” said also DG Pires.
