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General Background
East Timor became independent in May 2002. Three years of Independence means almost nothing for the majority of the East Timor people. By and large the population are not poor, but living in a condition of misery (miserable). Income per capita according to the World Bank is less than US$.50/day for the majority.
East Timor is the poorest country in Asia. It is the second most poor country in the world. Its standard of living according to some economic experts is the second most expensive in Asia and the sixth most expensive in the world. Most of the families they have only one full meal a day. Meat for the majority at most once in two months or more. Unemployment rate is very high.
Education and economic development are the main priorities that are consuming more attention and work of the Salesians of Don Bosco in East Timor. Our main concern is how to give a better education and a good human promotion to the young Timorese.
We believe they are the future of the nation. That is why we are also providing skills training for those that are less intelligent ones.
Nevertheless our efforts mainly are hindered by lack of economic support from the parents, from the government, etc. And to complement this economic support and need we are looking for sponsors and donors, people of good will and generosity who wish to contribute for the education of young generation of Timorese people. Concretely looking for scholarships is the main purpose of this project.
We are also morally committed and responsible to provide acknowledgement receipt to our donors as soon as we get your donation as well as a comprehensive report on the expenses of money once the budget is already expended.
1. Project Rationale:
To establish a scholarship program for needy, poor and orphaned students in the Salesian elementary, junior-senior secondary, technical school and non formal education in whole East Timor.
2. Beneficiary:
The beneficiaries of this program will be needy and deserving students for the elementary, junior secondary, senior secondary and technical schools in East Timor under salesians care.
3. Background to the State of Education in East Timor:
Statistics available on the present state of Education in East Timor are worrying:
* Approximately 46% of East Timor's population have never had any schooling at all;
* The level of illiteracy is 60% in women and 40% in men;
* Only 75% of children are enrolled in schools, and of that number, as many as 20% never, or rarely attend; in the year 2000-2001, out of the 2,091 junior/senior high school teachers, only 106 have ever had formal training;
* Approximately 95% of schools and other education institutions were destroyed in the '99 post ballot period.
* With 46% of the adult population having had little or no schooling, 30% only primary, 12% junior secondary, 10% senior secondary education and 1.4% higher education, well-educated persons are few, and even fewer are qualified to teach and manage.
* Around 20-25% of all children repeat and 10% drop out of each grade in primary education and junior education. At this level of internal efficiency, only 67% of grade 1 students will ever reach grade 4 and only 47% will complete grade 6.
The first National Development Plan (2002) for East Timor articulates the need for sound education. "Our vision is that by 2020, the East Timorese people will be well educated, healthy, highly productive, democratic, self-reliant, espousing the values of nationalism, non-discrimination and equity within a global context."
The Government and people of East Timor have many expectations, but these focus strongly on two important development goals:
"a. To reduce poverty in all sectors and regions of the nation and
b. To promote economic growth that is equitable and sustainable, improving the health education and well being of everyone in East Timor."]
(i)National Development Plan March 2002, English version.
(ii) East Timor Sector Study of the World Bank, Sept 4-2002.
4. Background to Salesian Education in East Timor (Timor Leste)
The Salesians started working in East Timor in 1945 right after the World War II at a primary, pre-secondary and professional school (from grade 1 to 12) in Fuiloro and later Baucau in the Eastern part of the island. The schools catered to both male and female students and has continued to do so until the present day. Before the Indonesian occupation of 1975, the school's medium of instruction was Portuguese. This changed to Indonesian and Tetun (the local national language) during Indonesian rule. Later on we added a training Center for drop out school and illiterate youth especially those that are very poor and without any skill at all.
After independence in 1999, the government adopted Portuguese as the National language of Timor Leste. Most of the school teachers especially secondary school teachers for science and mathematics were Indonesian and left after the referendum leaving a huge vacuum in terms of qualified secondary teachers.
Today, the salesians are running almost 80 schools (elementary, junior-senior secondary, technical and training center) with some estimated 12,000 students (...girls and...boys) scattered on rural areas and isolated places in East Timor.
Actually we are running:
1. A training Center in Dili with skills training in carpenter, automotive, welding, electric installation and computers;
2. Two technical/professional schools with specialization in animal husbandry, horticulture, carpenter, mechanics, electrics and electronics.
3. Two senior secondary schools;
4. Nine junior secondary schools and
5. And around 66 elementary schools in remote rural areas.
The administrators of the schools are currently struggling against great odds to provide a quality education to young boys and girls between the ages of 5 years and 19 years. Many of the students in the school have experienced trauma, extreme hardship and loss and are unable to pay the US$ 0.50 to US$ 10.00 per month fee. This fee entitles them to an afternoon meal at some schools. Many of the students in the school suffer extreme poverty, are orphans or have lost one parent. The average income in the remote villages is US$0,20/day and in the towns is US$0,50/day. Only Dili some families has an income of US$1.00/day to US$5/day for government officials.
Within this background the school hopes to be provide young children with a quality elementary, secondary and technical education within the realities and limitations in Timor Leste.
5. The Scholarship Program:
5.1. The scholarship program seeks support from the international community for needy and deserving elementary, high school and technical students who are unable to continue their education due to poverty and in many cases to complement the small amount of money that they are paying to the schools.
5.2. Giving subsidy to our students. From our expenses and giving the standard of living every student of:
- Elemtary school should pay 4 to 5 dollars/monthly;
- Junior secondary 7 to 10 dollars/monthly;
- Senior and technical should pay 15 to 20 USD/month.
But the present economic situation of the families allow them only to pay 0,50 cents for elementary; 2-3 dollars for junior secondary and 5 to 10 dollars for the senior secondary and technical school. Many of them not even afford to pay one dollar a month. For this reason we are hoping that somebody has to cover the rest of the expenses not covered by the students.
5.3. By contributing to the program, people will make an immediate, practical and realistic contribution to the children of Timor Leste, who are the future of this country.
6. Commencement Date
The Development Office which is in charge of the schools hopes to establish the scholarship fund from September 2005, the start of the academic year in Timor Leste.
7. Impact of the project
1. Currently about 1/3rd. of the students in the school are unable to pay fees but are allowed to continue their education due to a lack of alternatives.
2. If Students are not able to complete junior secondary schooling there is the real possibility they will become disaffected and dysfunctional. Employment, if it is available, will be confined to menial work.
3. Many of the students have the ability and the desire to continue with secondary education but are unable to do so because of poverty and multiple family burdens. This is a tragedy for the country who needs educated young people to fill the vacuum left after the indonesian exodus.
4. The scholarship fund will have an immediate impact on the students by allowing them to proceed and progress with secondary education.
5. The student fees will also help the school, as the school will be able to meet further needs and plan for future requirements of students through funds obtained through fees.
8. The Project Commitment
The commitment made will provide the following needs for the students:
1. US$84 will cover most of the needs of education for a student for a complete year (secondary school)
2. US$10 will cover provide for fees and books for a student for one month (secondary school)
3. US$48 will cover most of the niees of education for a student for a complete year (elementary school)
4. US$5 will cover provide for fees and books for a student for one month (elementary school)
5. US$540 will cover most of the needs of education for a student for a complete year (technical school: US$ 1.5/day)
6. US$ 720 will cover most of the needs of education for a student for a complete year (Training Centre: US$2/day)
Scholarship for how many students?
1. Secondary school: 2,300 (two thousand three hundred);
2. Elementary school: 9,600 (nine thousand six hundred);
3. Technical/professional: 450 (four hundred fifty)
4. Skills training center students: 200 (two hundred)
Use of the budget
1. Maintenance of the schools;
2. Some small renovations;
3. Purchase of school materials;
4. Incentive for the teachers and staff;
5. Teachers upgrading courses during summer vacation (most of the teachers are not qualified);
6. Food for the students (many they come to school without food in the morning);
7. For technical/training: provide equipments and materials for experiments and practice in the shops.
8. Facilitation of Donatins
Donations can be made through the registered charity and receipts will be issued.
For any further information please contact:
Development Office of Salesian Missions in East Timor.
Don Bosco Technical Center Comoro Dili East Timor.
P.O.Box 108, Dili, East Timor.
Email: dosmiet@yahoo.com
Telp/Fax: +670 3317112; HP: +670 7239909
Project Leaders/Coordinators
1. Fr. Trans Antonio Pinto, SDB (East Timor)
2. Dc. John Ip, SDB (Hongkong National) |
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