The Ermera Community Learning Centre has 100 trainees
On July 26th, the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, Michael Manetelo, and the Vice Minister of Primary Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, visited the Community Learning Centre of the Ermera district.
The one hundred trainees who are part of this Learning Center come from five sucos (Eraulo, Lauana and Katrai Kraik from the Letefoho sub-district, and the Parami and Baboe Kraik sucos from Atsabe sub-district), each of which sent twenty people.
"The Learning Center of the Ermera district is a pilot project. According to 2010 statistics, about 25% of people aged between 15 and 24 years are illiterate, as they did not have access to school. This program helps reduce the percentage of illiteracy," assured Michael Manetelo.
"As a pilot project, with UNICEF support, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Education, the Centre may establish itself in other sucos spread throughout the other districts," stressed the Secretary of State.
Dulce de Jesus Soares explains, "The Centre’s program includes sport, entertainment and art groups and also makes reciprocal group exchanges and debates."
The Vice-Minister for Primary Education requests all participants to strive to learn because after the three phases of the course (initial, development and advanced), they can perform an exam to obtain Basic Education equivalence.
Since it is a pilot program, the course lasts six months, although it may extend for a year or even more.
As support for sports and other activities, the Centre received balls and nets for soccer and volleyball, chairs and guitars.
