This education project, implemented by the Timor-Leste Ministry of Education, the regional government of Oe-Cusse and UNDP Timor-Leste, sought to enhance quality, relevant and inclusive education for children and young people of Oe-Cusse, contributing to the realization of their right to education and access to technology.
When the information and communications technology (ICT) lab was installed in secondary school in the remote district of Oesilo in the distant Timor-Leste enclave of Oe-Cusse, a 17-year- old, Norberta Lopes Esa Pires, jumped at the opportunity
with enthusiasm, since it was beneficial not only for her own development but also for the community:
“Since the establishment of the school’s computer lab, I personally think that it has brought positive impact to me and the community in my village. Due to lack of computer facilities, my ICT skills were very limited, but since the lab was installed, I have learned some basic computer applications such as PowerPoint, Excel and Microsoft Word. My parents and the community are very happy, too, as now I can help the community with skills that I gained, simple tasks such as drafting and designing the letter for some community event, without having to write it manually on paper anymore.
? Norberta Lopes Esa Pires
The ICT Innovation Bootcamp and Exhibition 2021 gathered 120 competitively selected students and 30 teachers from 27 schools (primary, secondary and vocational) throughout Oe- Cusse. For a few days, this remote enclave became a vibrant, innovative, creative-knowledge, robotic and Internet-of-things (IoT) technology-generating hub. The goal of the Bootcamp was to educate students on becoming potential social entrepreneurs by solving existing problems and developing real-life solutions with workable market potential. The Bootcamp was a way to transform students’ ideas into innovative business concepts for the most motivated teams. Major activities included training and workshops, competitions and an exhibition. The international trainers from India (Robolab Technologies Pvt. Ltd.) provided online training in robotic and IoT technology using Arduino equipment; simultaneously the national trainers provided hands- on training in robotics and website design.
Norberta had computer class at least twice a week and represented her school at the ICT Innovation Bootcamp and Exhibition 2021. “Before, I didn’t know how to do research on the Internet. With the skills I gained, I researched and presented information about pollution, especially global pollution affecting our planet. At this moment, our planet is in danger. What I learned during this programme and in this camp gives me enormous advantages in applying for university or work in the future,” Norberta said excitedly.
“In the twenty-first century, most of the students are already familiar with the computer. Having ICT training also influenced my employability and my career as a teacher. Using ICT skills, we improved the quality of our teaching and preparation for classes, also the quality of education.”
? Mr. Aleixo Coa, an information technology teacher in Oe-Cusse, observed.
After completing the two-day training, a workshop and competitions, students showcased their model projects at the exhibition. A total of 30 students were designated as the winners and runner-up for five competition categories: basic and advanced ICT skills, website design, robotics, and innovation using IoT. More than 200 students, teachers, parents and government staff visited the exhibition and participated in the closing ceremony. In a speech, Mr. Venkat Narayanan, Counsellor and Commercial Representative at the Embassy of India to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, expressed his appreciation to the students and project team and visited the exhibition virtually.
“Before, we had difficulties in training students in computer subjects, but afterwards, with support from UNDP and the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, a computer lab was established in our school. It is benefiting me and the teachers to improve our teaching by using ICT applications. It is benefiting our students, since before, they had little opportunity to have practical ICT training, and now they even participated in ICT competitions, where they learned and gained lots of experience in basic robotics, creating a video and how to do a presentation with Microsoft PowerPoint. The community is also very happy, as the village got support with such a facility, where their children can learn and develop at no extra cost. So I think the project has a very positive impact for the school, teachers and the community.”
Said Mr. Jose Luis Mala, Director of the secondary public school in Oesilo, commenting on the project.
