Strengthening Teacher Training in Timor-Leste with Nippon Foundation Grant: Launch of a 5-Year Project to Promote Health Education in Primary Schools

The Specific Non-Profit Organization Share = International Health Cooperation Citizens' Association (hereinafter referred to as Share), with a grant from The Nippon Foundation, will launch the "Foundation Development Project for the Promotion of Primary Health Education" in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste starting in April 2026. In this project, in collaboration with the Faculty of Education at the National University of Timor-Leste, Share will systematically introduce health education into the teacher training curriculum, thereby building a mechanism for human resource development that can sustainably implement health education in primary schools nationwide.***

April 7th every year is "World Health Day," as designated by the World Health Organization (WHO). In recent years, WHO has emphasized the importance of education's role as a foundation for supporting health, and school education is considered to play a significant role in shaping children's health behaviors. Health education in schools is a crucial opportunity to foster lifelong health foundational skills, including infection prevention, nutrition, adolescent health, and the formation of hygiene habits.

In Timor-Leste, challenges surrounding children's health and education remain significant, with UNICEF reporting that 47.1% of children under five suffer from stunting. Furthermore, the provision of basic water and sanitation facilities in schools is insufficient, and there are areas where adequate environments for learning infection prevention behaviors and hygiene habits are not in place. In such circumstances, strengthening school-based health education is positioned as an important policy issue, contributing not only to children's health but also to ensuring educational opportunities.

On the other hand, despite health subjects being included in the primary school curriculum by the Ministry of Education of Timor-Leste, classes are not sufficiently implemented in many primary schools. Factors contributing to this include health education not being systematically covered in teacher training programs, and teachers having limited opportunities to learn the knowledge and teaching methods for health. As a result, there is a situation where children lack opportunities to learn basic knowledge such as infection prevention, handwashing, nutrition, and adolescent health in schools, which are important learning environments.

In this project, with the support of The Nippon Foundation, Share will collaborate with the Faculty of Education at the National University of Timor-Leste to promote the introduction of health education into teacher training programs. Through training for university faculty, development of lecture manuals and teaching materials, preparation of learning materials for students, practical lesson implementation linked to teaching practice, and training for in-service teachers, Share will build a practical model connecting the university and primary school sites. This aims to foster teachers who can implement health classes upon graduation, thereby contributing to the creation of a foundation for the continuous implementation of health education in primary schools nationwide in the future.

Furthermore, this project is consistent with the higher education system reforms being promoted by the Timor-Leste government, and now, with advances in quality assurance and curriculum reform in university education, is considered an opportune moment to review the content of teacher training programs. Through a systemic approach spanning universities, the Ministry of Education, and schools, the project aims to build a sustainable human resource development model that goes beyond one-off training sessions.

Project Outline

Project Name: Foundation Development Project for the Promotion of Primary Health Education in Timor-Leste

Grant: The Nippon Foundation

Implementation Period: April 2026 – March 2031

Activity Area: Dili Municipality, Atauro Municipality, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

Main Partner Organizations: Faculty of Education, National University of Timor-Leste; Ministry of Education, Timor-Leste

Implementing Organization: Specific Non-Profit Organization Share = International Health Cooperation Citizens' Association

Share's Past Initiatives

Share has been active in Timor-Leste since 1999, continuously engaging in curriculum development, health personnel training, and administrative collaboration in areas such as school health, health education, maternal and child health, and water and sanitation. Through collaboration with The Nippon Foundation, Share aims to connect the knowledge gained in the field to the teacher training system, thereby realizing a society where children can acquire the ability to protect their own health.

Reference Information

To continuously promote activities that support the training of health professionals and community-led health promotion, Share is conducting a monthly supporter recruitment campaign from March 16 to April 30, 2026. Through continuous donations starting from 1,000 yen per month, you can support "people who protect lives" working in the fields of health education and maternal and child health.

▶Campaign Details