February 25, 2017 marks a special day for the latest group of budding educators as they graduate from the Marists teacher training college, ICFP, Timor-Leste, with a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary).
The Instituto Católico a para Formação de Professores (ICFP) located in Baucau, Timor-Leste is a Marist-run Catholic Teachers College that offers an accredited Bachelor of Teaching and is the only tertiary institution outside of the capital Dili. It is also the only provider of quality pre-service basic education teacher training in the country.
February 25, 2017 saw 53 students graduate from ICFP’s three-year Bachelor of Teaching degree, making a total of 570 students who have completed this course in the past 11 years. Two-thirds of the ICFP students are supported by scholarships provided by support groups including the eMerge Foundation Sydney, Friends of Lospalos, Ailey, Viqueque, Ainaro, Laleia, Suai/ Covalima, Baucau and Luro, Geelong Viqueque Friendship Schools, Bega Valley Advocotes, Bosco Social Justice Group, Rotary Club of Breakfast Point, Bairnsdale Friends of East Timor and the Rex Cambrey Scholarship funded by the Lennon Family Foundation. Schools support included Sacred Heat College Geelong and St Andrews College Marayong.
Four ICFP staff members also graduated with a Master of Education from Australian Catholic University with Emeritus Professor Tony d’Arbon on hand to deliver the testamurs, making a total of 17 who have been awarded this degree. They, and former Masters graduates, make a significant contribution and are an important presence on the staff of the Institute.
The educational infrastructure in Timor-Leste is still weak, but ICFP’s goal is to strengthen the Catholic School system and provide the country with fully qualified teachers. The status of ICFP is widely recognised and respected in Timor Leste, having received maximum marks in the recent government accreditation process.
The college empowers its students to become leaders in the field of primary education and leaders within their own local community as well. Trained in critical thinking, pedagogy and child development, the students are readily offered employment upon graduation
ICFP is committed to providing opportunities for students from rural areas of Timor-Leste to gain qualifications. This diversity is represented in this graduating class with students coming from many different districts in Timor-Leste. This is critical for the development of the country as the qualified teachers head back to their community ensuring that an increasing number of students across Timor-Leste gain the benefits of being taught by qualified teachers.
ICFP is a major project of the Marist Brothers and of Australian Marist Solidarity and is contributing to the development of one of the poorest countries in Asia. For more information on ICFP visit https://www.australianmaristsolidarity.net.au/project/icfp/