The proposal of the Ministry of Education defining the Portuguese language as the language of instruction and teaching in the educational system of Timor-Leste was approved. The Tetum language takes on a supporting role.
The Government of Timor-Leste approved on Wednesday a proposal from the Ministry of Education that defines Portuguese as the language of instruction and teaching throughout the educational system, leaving Tetum as the support language.
“This bill introduces a set of necessary changes to adapt the basic law of the country’s education sector to the current requirements and challenges,” reads the statement issued at the end of the meeting of the Council of Ministers, in which gives an account of the “modification of the norm regarding the languages of instruction and teaching, defining the The Portuguese language as a language of instruction and teaching of the Timorese educational system, with the Tetum language and other national languages assuming a support role“.
In addition, it is also pointed out in the part of the text that accounts for the changes to the basic law of Education, “they are also changed several regulations related to education levels preschool, basic and middle school to recognize the importance of learning the Portuguese language in the national education sector”.
The Government argues that the diploma will also “eliminate injustices in the attribution of higher technical education titles and diplomas”, so that “it will be possible for establishments higher technical education award degrees and diplomas such as bachelor’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees“.
The meeting of Timorese ministers on Wednesday also approved the draft decree-law, presented by the Ministry of Defense, referring to the Organic Structure of the National Maritime Authority, which defines, within the scope of the Maritime Authorities System (SAM), the new structure, organization, operation and powers of the National Maritime Authority (AMN), and a set of support measures for micro, small and medium-sized companies, presented by the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industries.
The reforms to the Mercantile Registry and the Company Registration and Verification Service, IP (SERVE, IP), the draft decree-law on the Staff Statute of the National Intelligence Service and the Major Options of the Plan complete the range of measures approved and that were announced by the Timorese executive.
Source: Observadora
