The system of language instruction is causing confusion in schools, with three languages currently being taught.
Mother tongue languages, Tetum and Portuguese are all used in the classroom, although under the law only the latter is recognized as a formal method of instruction.
National Members of Parliament MP Ilda Maria da Conceição said that according to law no. 14/2008, Portuguese is classified as a written language, while Tetum is a spoken language, meaning that it can only be used as an instructional language.
“It does not mean our children won’t learn their mother tongue and Tetum, but we want their future to be better because they are not just studying in our country,” said Conceição at a plenary session for the National Parliament, in Dili.
She said she was shocked during a recent visit to Baucau School and saw that the books being distributed by the Ministry of Education were in Tetum.
“We provide Portuguese language courses for teachers in order that they teach the students in Portuguese, but the books are in Tetum,” she said.
According to Conceição, in 2015, the Ministry of Education distributed teaching manuals published in Tetum for the subjects of mathematic, social science, biology and health and hygiene up to grade 4 level.
She added that poor teaching quality was having a big impact on the future of Timorese students and preventing them from accessing opportunities for further study in other countries.
Responding to the issue, National Director for School Social Action, Belchior R.A Barros, said that student textbooks from grade 1 to grade 4 were now being produced in Tetum so that students could have a better understanding of the subjects provided.
“We are using Tetum to teach the children and they also have a Portuguese language subject,” said Barros.
He added that the Education Ministry had ultimate responsibility regarding the language policy and instruction materials used in schools.
