Instituto Catolico para Formacao de Professores (ICFP) is a Marist run teachers training college in Baucau, Timor-Leste.
ICFP is only one of two functioning institutes that offer teacher training and the only tertiary institute located outside of the capital city Dili, Timor-Leste. Australian Marist Solidarity has been a long term supporter of ICFP as well as many other educational projects in Timor-Leste. The country was given its independence in 1999 however widespread violence saw as much as 70% of national infrastructure destroyed.
ICFP offers a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) to students and supports lecturers in achieving their Masters of Educational Leadership via distance learning through Australian Catholic University. 560 newly qualified teachers have already benefited from ICFP program between 2006 to 2017 and it is anticipated that over the next three years 191 more students will graduate and at least two staff commence their Masters.
Now thanks to Manos Unidas, ICFP has been able to add some important new technology to their classrooms with the addition of 39 new computers, taking the total to 57. This is an important step forward for the school particularly as computers have changed the way we work, be it any profession and now play a vital role in every field.