In the beginning of 2024, the community-based preschool project carried out various activities such as Monitoring and Mentorship, Clusters, Back to school campaign, including different training to FOs, Facilitators, and the School Management Committee. In this period, the Alola Field officers from each municipality coordinated with facilitators from each centre to collect the number of children registered in the preschool.

This year, the Community Based Pre-School (CBPS) project participated in the Preschool Working Group under the Ministry of Education. Its goal is to develop policies for establishing and licensing community preschools. In collaboration with facilitators in Ermera and Viqueque, the CBPS collected enrollment data, revealing that 2,560 children are enrolled for the 2024 academic year, including 1,244 boys and 1,316 girls.

The Field Officer collaborated with School Management Committee to conduct a Back to School Campaign in 50 Preschool in Ermera; 885 students’ parents participated consisting of 439 females and 446 males. In Viqueque municipality the activities were conducted in 31 preschools and participated by 424 parents consisting of 131 Males and 293 females.

The objective of this activity is to introduce parents to the Community Based Pre School program and encourage them to bring their children to school regularly, emphasizing the importance of early education.

This year, the CBPS team in Dili conducted monitoring and mentorship for preschool facilitators in Ermera and Viqueque, observing their teaching methods. In collaboration with Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA), they organized cluster activities to enhance facilitators’ understanding of the learning process. The team also held training sessions with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, to improve educational practices and outcomes for students.

Below, we provide a comprehensive overview of the specific training sessions that have been carried out, including the topics covered, the target audience, and the outcomes achieved.

·         Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) training to Field Officer

In the beginning of the year, the Community Based Preschool project begins the activities with conducting the refresher training to FOs from Ermera and Viqueque municipalities. The training was delivered by VSA – Jude de Wall on the topic of monitoring and Mentoring, Curriculum, Literacy and Numeracy and general development. The objectives of the training is to kept remind them on those topics and emphasize them to be more actively doing their jobs.

·         Facilitators training

Providing refresher training to facilitators once a year, Alola, UNICEF, and VSA work alongside INFORDEPE to deliver a one-week training. The 2024 training focus was “Manual Formasaun ba fasilitador Pré-eskolar Komunitáriu: Literasia inisiál, knaar família no aprende liuhosi halimar (lúdika)”. In Viqueque 66 facilitators attending the training consisting of 5 males and 61 females; and Ermera 89 facilitators compromised of 22 males and 67 females. However some of facilitators were not participated in the training due to the family commitments. The team provide the learning material kit as a teaching resource to use with the children in each centres.

·         School Management Committee training

The Community-Based pre School team collaborate with UNICEF in conducting the training to School Management Committee (SMC) in Ermera and Viqueque municipalities. The training focus on topic of Criteria on Licensing from Ministry of Education, department of accreditation (GALA), Early Simulation, The importance of preschools and the role of SMC; participants were interesting to the topics and enthusiasm participate in the training. The participant from both municipalities are 122 Ermera (M: 66 and F: 5) Viqueque (M: 39 and F: 12).

·         Parenting Education Training

In this period the project collaborates with UNICEF and HANDS in delivering the training to FOs in Ermera and MSSI (Ministério Solidariedade Sosial Inclusão) staffs on the topics of Early Stimulation, Child protection, Children well-being, supporting early Education and Health. The training was participated by 18 MSSI (M: 14 and F: 4) including 4 FOs. Furthermore the 11 MSSI staff will support the FOs to implement the pilot activities in to community level. This pilot activities targeted to 11 Basic schools and 11 Preschools in the Ermera municipality.

·         Handed over certificates to graduating students

At the end of the period, the community-based preschool team awarded certificates to graduates, enabling them to continue their studies at basic schools. In the Ermera district, there were 481 students (238 males and 243 females), while Viqueque district had 429 students (206 males and 223 females). This achievement marks a key milestone in their educational journey, as they are now ready to advance and build on the skills learned in early childhood education.