Paulina Quintao – The Education Ministry's declaration that six districts are free from illiteracy is incorrect as it does not take into account adult illiteracy, says Timor-Leste Coalition for Education (TLCE) program manager Matias dos Santos.

Dos Santos said TLCE conducted monitoring in three of the districts claimed to be illiteracy-free and found many adults could not read or write. The supposedly illiteracy-free areas were Dili, Atauro, Lautem, Oe-cusse, Aileu and Manatuto.

"53 per cent of the population of Lautem cannot read or write, therefore the Ministry's statement is not true," Dos Santos said.

He said the survey had not covered all of the areas included in the ministry's statement. He said the districts lacked places to teach reading and writing skills.

He said several classrooms tasked with improving adult literacy were not functioning. "However the volunteers are still receiving money," he said.

Education national director Mario Antonio da Costa Ximenes said the ministry was assessing the success of a national literacy program and would soon announce the beginning of the project's second phase.

He said Timor-Leste was on track to be free from illiteracy next year, but that the government would do in depth survey before declaring it so.

He said the empty classrooms had been caused by the resignation of volunteer teachers but said the issue had been resolved and the program was up and running again.

There were 424 classrooms across Timor-Leste devoted to teaching adult literacy, he said.Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/news/12982-tlce-raises-doubts-over-government-literacy-claim