Strengthening Teacher Training in East Timor for Health Education in Schools

A groundbreaking initiative funded by the Nippon Foundation is set to launch in April 2026 in East Timor, with the goal of enhancing teacher training to promote health education in elementary schools. The program, titled "Infrastructure Development Initiative for the Dissemination of Primary Health Education," will be implemented in collaboration with the Faculty of Education at the National University of Timor-Leste. This initiative aims to systematically incorporate health education into the teacher training curriculum, thereby establishing a sustainable framework for training educators capable of delivering health education consistently across the country’s primary schools.

April 7, recognized as "World Health Day" by the World Health Organization (WHO), serves as a reminder of the essential role of education in supporting health. WHO emphasizes the significance of education, particularly in forming healthy behaviors among children. Health education in schools offers a vital opportunity to cultivate lifelong capacities by teaching essential skills, such as infection prevention, nutrition, puberty health, and hygiene practices.

Despite these imperatives, East Timor faces significant challenges regarding child health and education. According to UNICEF, a staggering 47.1% of children under five experience stunting due to malnutrition, indicating severe developmental hurdles. Furthermore, basic water and sanitation facilities in schools are often inadequate, hindering the implementation of effective hygiene practices and raising awareness about infection prevention among students. Therefore, strengthening health education in schools is not merely about child health; it’s a crucial policy issue that impacts the availability of educational opportunities as well.

Additionally, while health subjects are officially included in the primary school curriculum by the Ministry of Education in Timor-Leste, many schools struggle with effective implementation. A key reason for this issue is the lack of systematic treatment of health education within teacher training programs. As a result, potential teachers have limited opportunities to acquire the knowledge and teaching methods required for health subjects. This leads to a situation where children miss out on critical learning opportunities related to infection prevention, handwashing, nutrition, and health during puberty.

To address these shortcomings, the new initiative plans to support the integration of health education into teacher training curricula at the university level. Activities will involve faculty training, development of teaching manuals and educational materials, creation of learning resources for students, and coordinated teaching practices aligned with educational internships. This structured approach aims to establish a practical model that connects universities with primary school settings, ultimately cultivating teachers who can effectively deliver health education by the time they graduate.

Moreover, this endeavor aligns with the higher education system reforms being advanced by the Timor-Leste government, creating an opportune moment to reassess the content of teacher training programs amid ongoing improvements in quality assurance and curriculum development in higher education. By taking a systemic approach that involves collaboration across universities, the Ministry of Education, and schools, the initiative aspires to build a sustainable model for continuous human resource development that goes beyond isolated training sessions.

Project Overview

- Project Name: Infrastructure Development Initiative for the Dissemination of Primary Health Education in East Timor
- Funding: Nippon Foundation
- Implementation Period: April 2026 - March 2031
- Activity Regions: Dili and Atauro, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
- Main Collaborating Institutions: Faculty of Education, National University of Timor-Leste; Ministry of Education, Timor-Leste
- Implementing Organization: Share: Citizens’ Association for Global Health Cooperation

Previous Efforts by Share

Share has been active in East Timor since 1999, focusing on school health, health education, maternal and child health, and water and sanitation. Through collaboration with the Nippon Foundation, Share aims to connect its on-ground experiences to the teacher training system, ensuring that children acquire the tools necessary to protect their health.

_For more information, you can reach out to Share at [email protected] or visit their website: https://share.or.jp/index.html._

Furthermore, Share is continuously promoting the training of health personnel and facilitating community-based health initiatives. A monthly supporter recruitment campaign is currently underway from March 16 to April 30, 2026, where contributions starting from just 1,000 yen per month can support individuals working in health education and maternal-child health sectors._