A snapshot of the partnership between Australian Marist Solidarity and the Catholic Education Office of the Diocese of Baucau, Timor-Leste.
Background
The education system in Timor-Leste operates under challenging conditions with unqualified teachers and poor infrastructure leading to poor retention and achievement of students. Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS) takes a dual approach to improving the education system through our support of the Marist-run Teachers Training College in Baucau (ICFP), and our commitment to rebuilding and renovating run-down schools. When the Indonesians retreated from Timor-Leste in 1999, they enacted a ‘scorched earth policy’ which crippled the education sector as 80% of schools were destroyed completely and 90% of the remaining schools damaged. This has lingering implications for students and teachers of today as many schools remain badly damaged and in a derelict state.
Catholic Education in the Diocese of Baucau
Catholic Education plays an integral role in the formation and nurturing of young people in Timor-Leste. The Diocese of Baucau covers the four eastern Districts of the country, namely Manatuto, Baucau, Viqueque and Lautem, with a combined population of almost 400,000 people whom are majority Roman Catholic.
The Catholic Education Office within the Diocese of Baucau, known as Fundacao San Jose (FSJ), oversees 109 schools from pre-school to senior high school level. Within these schools there are over 20,000 students and almost 1,000 teachers. One of the challenges faced by FSJ is that many schools require major structural redevelopment for which they do not have available funds to achieve. FSJ seeks to bolster the number of junior high schools by expanding selected primary schools to incorporate the first cycle of high school education. This will result in more students being able to complete their education in the Catholic system and is especially important considering the large number of primary school students nationwide.
FSJ is partnered with AMS to redevelop strategically selected schools in large catchment areas or schools that are nearing complete disrepair. All schools are identified by FSJ and the construction is carried out by long-term and trusted building partner, REIN. The buildings are not merely rebuilt but are transformed into modern, sturdy and defining structures for the community.
Funding Partners
Recent Achievements
2015 – Abafala Catholic Primary School, Abafala, Bacau District
Before: After:
2016/17 – St Terezinha’s Catholic Junior High School, Ossu, Viqueque District
Before: After: