In February 2016, 46 students graduated from the Marists teacher training college, ICFP, Timor-Leste, with a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary). These young adults are part of the new generation of Timorese who are becoming the future leaders of the country. Deputy Director of Quality Assurance, Margie Beck, along with two former students, made contact with 43 of these graduates six months after completing the degree to find out what they are doing now.
Results show that 18 are now employed, which represents 42% of the graduating class. On the surface this seems low however there are many factors influencing this such as almost a quarter of graduates not being able to work because of family reasons and home duties. This shows that there are significant cultural pressures, especially on women, to raise or care for their family. This is one of the many barriers to education and employment that ICFP is challenging.
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 eight of the thirteen districts in Timor-Leste. Encouragingly, all the graduates who are now classroom teachers are teaching back in their home district. This is critical for the development of the country and ensures that an increasing number of students across Timor-Leste will gain the benefits of being taught by qualified teachers. Of equal importance is that two-thirds of the graduates were female, a ratio that is consistent over the life of ICFP.
ICFP is a major project of the Marist Brothers and of Australian Marist Solidarity and is contributing to the development of one of the newest countries in the world. For more information on ICFP please visit https://www.australianmaristsolidarity.net.au/project/icfp/.