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. It is only one of two providers of primary teacher training in the country.
Nekito comes from LosPalos, in the municipality of Lautem, which is further east of Baucau. He is 25 years old, and he graduated from ICFP this year in February with a Bachelor of Teaching and is now studying for a Lisensiatura Pedagógica (equivalent to a Bachelor of Education in Australia) specialising in Physical Education. At the same time, he is working as an unpaid volunteer in his local school while carrying out an action research project in Physical Education as part of his thesis.
Nekito comes from an agricultural background, where his parents are subsistence farmers. With a large number of siblings, Nekito’s family was unable to pay for his education at ICFP. Nekito, encouraged by his high school teachers, applied to study at ICFP where he was accepted and supported by a scholarship.
Nekito is a natural leader. While in his 3rd year of study he approached the ICFP staff to gain access to a classroom on Saturdays so that he and his cohort could come together to study. He took responsibility for the opening and closing of the room and kept it tidy in readiness for Monday morning classes. He stood out from his peers in terms of participation and commitment to his studies. At graduation Nekito was chosen to represent his group to give the vote of thanks on behalf of all the graduates.
Australian Marist Solidarity would like to thank all of the groups and ‘friends’ groups that support ICFP students with scholarships. To support students like Nekito visit: https://bit.ly/2NwUEgC