Estevao Nuno – One of the priorities for the Ministry of Education (ME) in 2015 is to use funds allocated in the State Budget for education to rehabilitate 800 schools presently in very poor condition in remote areas of the country.

"We have identified 800 schools some will be rehabilitated and other will be rebuilt," said the Director General for Cooperative Services Antonio Pires, at the ME in Vilaverde, Dili.

In 2014 the ME was allocated $25 million and much of the funds were used to purchase the 100,000 desks and chairs that will continue to be distributed to schools around the country that need them.

The Program Manager of the Timor-Leste Coalition for Education (TLCE) Matias dos Santos supports the ministry's plan to repair damaged schools as well as furnish them.

"Some of the school buildings were damaged in 1999 and then again during the 2006 crisis," he said.

MP Eladio Faculto Member of Commission F (for health, education, culture, veteran and gender equality) said many schools across the country still lack facilities including chairs and desks, electricity and some also need rebuilding.

He hopes the government will look at this issue seriously this year because many schools, particularly in remote areas are still too inadequate to support student learning.

"I am concerned about the government's policies, plans and programs. They need to know what the plans are and what the programs are. This government needs to have program plans because without plans programs won't run."

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/education/13139-me-to-rehabilitate-800-schools-in-2015