Every child in Timor-Leste has the right to learn , regardless of disability, gender, language or circumstance. Inclusive education is the Ministry’s commitment to make that right real in every school.
National Inclusive Education Policy
Timor-Leste adopted its National Inclusive Education Policy in 2017, committing the education system to equitable access to quality education for all students, including children with disabilities. The policy is implemented by the National Directorate for Inclusive Education and School Social Action, working with schools, families and partners.
The Challenge
Despite major progress in expanding access to education, almost half of children aged 3 to 18 with disabilities are not enrolled in school. Other persistent barriers include late entry into Grade 1, dropout, and low learning outcomes , challenges that fall hardest on the most vulnerable children.
What We Are Doing
Under the 2024 Partnership Compact with the Global Partnership for Education, the Government and its partners are pursuing integrated reforms to improve inclusive and equitable access to quality education, organised around four areas:
- Better data , improving the collection and accuracy of data on children with disabilities, including school-based disability screening with clear referral pathways
- Education workforce , training teachers and school leaders in inclusive pedagogy
- Family and community engagement , working with parents and communities to bring every child to school
- Education quality , ensuring that inclusion means real learning for every student
Learn More
See Timor-Leste’s inclusion profile on UNESCO Education Profiles, and related work under EMULI, which removes language barriers for children in rural communities.