Digital Education in Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste is a Southeast Asian nation, which occupies half of the island of Timor, located to the north of Australia and south of Indonesia and the Phillipines.

The first case of COVID-19 in Timor-Leste was confirmed on March 21 and as of March 28, the Government of Timor-Leste had declared a state of emergency. A number of measures were announced as part of the state of emergency, including restrictions on public transport and recommendations to stay at home, as well as the closure of all schools as of March 23. 

UNICEF has been closely supporting the Government of Timor-Leste in its response to the pandemic, including working to spread information within local communities, providing clean water and improve sanitation facilities, and ensuring access to continued learning for children.

Working with the Ministry of Education, UNICEF helped to develop a series of 20 television programmes for children in pre-school through to Grade 6. These programmes are broadcast on national television and are also available online.

Radio programming and a wide range of video, audio and e-books are also being developed, including workbooks for students in Grades 1 to 4 who live in rural and remote areas and an e-book for parents and guardians on how to explain COVID-19 to children with disabilities.