A beginner high school class at SMP 3 Becora participate in a group activity matching words and pictures.

Back to basics for new nation

The DET has sent support English teachers to East Timor to help build the education system. DEIRDRE O'SULLIVAN reports on her experience.

Dawn Fletcher and I went to East Timor from September 2003 until March 2004, funded by the NSW Department of Education and Training. We worked in more than 20 high schools and helped extend their teaching methods and resources to more communicative approaches.

Between us we visited schools in Bobonaro district, Dili, Baucau, Ermera and Cova Lima on the eastern end with Los Palos as the capital.

It's a bit of a culture shock to teach in East Timor. It's like stepping back to the 1950s in Australia with large class sizes (50 plus) and even prayers in government schools.

Most schools are happy to have a roof over the students' heads, while insect screens remain a luxury and electric lights in classrooms are almost unheard of. In a heavy downpour in a dimly lit classroom with three to a desk, no insect screens and a black painted square on the wall for a blackboard, teaching can get a bit depressing except that students have turned up, are in uniform and can smile.

Students in East Timor are happy, sharp, pretty keen to learn, and enjoy a laugh.

For the first time in 25 years they have Timorese teachers in high schools, who speak their main language, Tetum, in the classroom. Until 2000 all teaching and learning was in Bahasa Indonesian. As a visiting English teacher from the NSW Department of Education and Training I could see and feel the rapport between teachers and students across the country.

Many teachers are young and indeed still in training and receive low wages by our standards but they are energetic and want the best for their classes. As well they are craving for new teaching ideas and methods. Enrolments in secondary school are higher than in Indonesian times and continue to grow as young people realise that their future and that of their country depends on education and training.

Fifty per cent of the East Timorese population is under 25 years of age. Most families have four to eight children if not more.

The secondary curriculum is still in the process of being developed and nationalised. Dawn and I attended a national education consultation in October 2003 where discussions were held on all aspects of the new curriculum including the reintroduction of Portuguese as a core language and medium of instruction. Portuguese is now the official language of East Timor while Tetum is the national language. Many people also aspire to speak English as the global language so English is popular as well as compulsory in high school.

Teachers express willingness to follow the aims of their new country and many attend after hours Portuguese language and education courses. Dawn and I also gave after hours workshops in methodology in English language teaching which were enthusiastically attended. There remains a sense of insecurity and need among the professionals in the world's newest country as they embark on their quest for self-reliant nationhood and they really value our interest.

School resources are still basic with chalk and copying predominating and limited supplies of Indonesian based textbooks (apart from Portuguese language books donated by Portugal). Science labs were destroyed in the violence of 1999 and as yet have not been replaced.

By going to teach in East Timor I had to face the importance of the basic aspects of schools like chalk and classrooms and how they can be mined for communicative and academic skills development and education. I worked closely with English teachers there to vary methodology and extend the textbook with practice activities (without photocopiers, overhead projectors, electricity in some places or computers). In East Timor you learn the integrity of the role of the teacher and appreciate the importance of good teaching/learning experiences in changing lives for the better.

Don't just give what you don't want yourself

If you want to give to East Timor schools, don't just give what you don't want yourself. Think about it. Among donations on school shelves I saw very few dictionaries, let alone bilingual ones (Bahasa Indonesian/English; Tetum /English; Portuguese/Tetum, Bahasa or English) and demand is very high for such books as well as good English as a Foreign Language grammar books.

As well Timorese students love guitars and singing. Many morning breaks in staffrooms are spent with a song and country music is popular. They seem to have that natural musical talent and could do with a batch of instruments (electricity free!).

At the same time sports equipment is needed and I observed enthusiastic sports teachers building team spirit in students with few resources (basketballs, rings, footballs, volleyballs, nets and so on). Soccer is very popular and with high levels of unemployment now and in the near future, sports will have an important social role.

Deirdre O'Sullivan teaches at Fairfield HS.

For further information

May 2004 contents