Timor Leste Grade 7 Curriculum - Tetum & Portuguese Literacy

Overview

Timor-Leste's education system faces the complex challenge of incorporating multiple languages. Tetum and Portuguese are the official languages, with Tetum serving as the lingua franca and Portuguese as a language of instruction. The government has emphasized the importance of both languages in education. There is a transitional model for literacy between Tetum and Portuguese. While more information is used in Tetum in lower grades, Portuguese instruction increases in higher grades. Portuguese is formally introduced in Grade 2. In Grade 7, students continue studying Portuguese.

Language Policy and Challenges

The language-in-education policy aims to incorporate mother tongue at the pre-primary level, transitioning to Portuguese as the language of instruction by Grade 5. However, implementing this policy presents several challenges:

• Linguistic Diversity: Timor-Leste has a rich linguistic landscape, which can make it difficult to standardize teaching materials and methods.
• Teacher Training: Teachers need adequate training and support to effectively teach in both Tetum and Portuguese.
• Resource Availability: Developing and distributing appropriate learning materials in both languages is crucial. USAID's All Children Reading project has worked on creating Tetun-language educational materials.
• Transitioning Between Languages: Managing the transition from mother tongue to Tetum and then to Portuguese as the primary language of instruction requires careful planning and execution.

Literacy Development

Literacy development in both Tetum and Portuguese is a key focus in the Timor-Leste education system. Early grade reading assessments have been conducted to evaluate reading skills and inform curriculum development. There is a need for ongoing efforts to improve reading and writing skills among students.