Supporting Children in East Timor

The East Timor school system includes both public and private education. The school year begins in January and ends in late November. There is no continuous assessment: pupils sit exams three times a year, with each exam period followed by a week’s holiday.

Although schooling is theoretically compulsory from the ages of 6 to 14, this rule is not widely enforced, especially in rural areas. Around one in five children is not enrolled in school.

Public schools often have a poor reputation, due to overcrowded classrooms, lack of discipline and limited resources. By contrast, private schools, most of which are Catholic or international, are run by religious congregations or foundations and generally offer higher-quality support. They often provide additional activities, such as extra classes, pastoral education and initiatives focused on the child’s overall development.

In most schools, pupils are divided into two groups: one attends lessons in the morning, while the other attends in the afternoon. Full school days are rare.

Secondary education is generally of better quality in Dili, the capital, which leads many young people from the provinces to move there to continue their studies, often staying with relatives.

Finally, Timorese culture places great importance on family events. The principle of “tolerancia” allows both children and adults to be excused from school or work in the event of a wedding, a death in the family or any other circumstance considered important.