The East Timor Transitional Administration’s Inspector General, Mariano Lopes, has concluded that there was a lack of coordination between UNTAET and CNRT in the national process of recruiting primary school teachers. The report, released today, also points out a significant number of irregularities in the selection process.
The distribution of teaching positions was disproportionate to the distribution of eligible candidates; some districts had more candidates than positions, while other districts had more positions than candidates. Moreover, some sub-districts do not have enough teaching positions in relation to their student enrolment.
The recruitment process in Manufahi, Ainaro, Liquica, Ermera and Manatutu appears to have been objective, fair and impartial, the report concludes.
In Viqueque, Covalima, Bobonaro and Dili there was a small number of irregularities. For example, teachers were appointed without sitting the recruitment test.
In Aileu, Lautem, Oecussi and Baucau districts, the district education committees did not follow the written instructions on teacher recruitment; there are a significant number of irregularities reported.
On this first audit, the Inspector General makes 13 recommendations in the report that the Cabinet endorsed earlier.
The Division of Education is already working in identifying and implementing the rectifications needed in the teacher appointment lists in consultation with all District Education Officials, as recommended by the Inspector General. The whole process is expected to be completed by the third week of November and be submitted to the Cabinet and subsequently to the Inspector General for review.
On 27 September, the East Timor Transitional Cabinet asked the Inspector General to review the teachers selection process, following complaints from teachers and the public.
A separate investigation into the selection of secondary school teachers is also being conducted by the Inspector General and is expected to be handed over to the Cabinet shortly.
MEETING ON MILSAS IN DENPASAR
UNTAET’s Chief of Staff N Parameswaran, is meeting with the Indonesian army on Thursday to discuss the possible return to East Timor of Milsas, the civilian Timorese recruited by the Indonesian Armed Forces as reservists.
Representatives from UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration will also take part in the meeting, which is a follow-up to previous meetings on the matter.
The intention is to facilitate the return of a first batch of 65 families, totaling 447 persons to Lospalos. There are currently some 2,600 Milsas in West Timor refugee camps – a total of 20,000 to 30,000 people, including extended families.
PUBLIC HEARING ON BUDGET REGULATIONS
Following the first formal session of the National Council yesterday, the Committee on Budget and Finance held a public hearing today on the proposed regulations on the tax revenue system and on the appropriations budget.
Six panelists were invited to present their views: Cabinet member for Finance Michael Francino, acting Cabinet member for Infrastructure John Ashworth and Donor Unit Coordinator Catherine Walker from the international staff, and Falintil Commander-in-Chief Taur Matan Ruak, economist Lucas da Costa and educator Antoninho Peres, representing the Timorese society.
The Committee will meet again tomorrow to prepare a report on the proposed legislations, to be presented to the National Council on Thursday, 9 November. The Council is expected to vote on the regulations by Friday.
EAST TIMORESE DEPLOYED IN CENTRAL CIVIL REGISTRY
Twenty-five East Timorese have been recruited to the Central Civil Registry and started a one-month initial training course yesterday.
The courses include an introduction in administration, Central Civil Registry as part of the General Administration, and English.
The Central Civil Registry will start functioning in December introducing a continuous civil registration of births, marriages and deaths. The issuance of certificates will be guaranteed again in East Timor and this is the first time that civil registration will take place in East Timor since the violence last year.
