Overview

In 2023, BETTER opened the Bakhita School of Excellence in Same, welcoming 48 Foundation year children (aged 5-6) and 9 local staff. This is the first school outside of Timor’s capital, Dili, to teach English from the Foundation year – providing an international standard of education to rural children.​​

This progressively built Foundation to Year 12 school will consist of a two classes per year group (45-50 students), together with supporting facilities. Upon completion of the school in 2035, BETTER will provide up to 650 students per year, access to a quality education. ​​

With the aspiration to set a new national education standard in East Timor, BETTER have created a custom curriculum. The curriculum uses the Timorese curriculum as the base, adding elements of the Australian curriculum teaching in Tetun, Portuguese, and English. 

To support this custom curriculum, BETTER have created a teacher support program including lesson plans, scope and sequence and a micro-credentialed LMS program aligned to global teaching standards.​​

The school’s impact goes beyond the rural community of Same, as it gives the nation hope that people have not forgotten about them. The school is supported by the Government, Church, local organisations and the community. ​

The school will have a lasting impact, providing hope and a foundation for future generations to thrive and prosper.​​

The situation in Timor-Leste​

Emerging from decades of conflict, Timor-Leste, also known by its English name East Timor, gained its independence in 2002. East Timor has the highest poverty rate in Southeast Asia with more than 42 percent of people living in poverty.​​

With 50% of the population being 19 years old or younger, education is crucial to providing a pathway out of poverty and into prosperity, however 58 percent of the population have either left school early or never attended school at all. When at school, 70 percent of grade one students don’t meet basic learning outcomes and 1 in 5 students repeat the same grade every year.​​

Located just 700km northwest of Darwin, roughly the same distance from Sydney to Melbourne, the country is one of Australia’s closest geographical neighbours, yet we are worlds apart in terms of access to education. While the average child in Australia receives 12.7 years of schooling, Timorese children receive a mere 4.8 years of schooling. ​

That’s approximately 700,000 children in need of an education…on Australia’s doorstep.

Our vision​

By 2030 children across East Timor will have access to a BETTER education. ​

Our mission​

Our mission is to give East Timor a hand up through revolutionary education, not a hand out.​

​Our aspiration​

Set a new national education standard in East Timor.​

Our approach​

BETTER’s Founder has been working to improve education in East Timor since 2013. In 2014, she played a vital role in the redevelopment of a rural senior school that has educated over 650 children and has since ranked fourth in the country. ​

However, after conducting comprehensive testing of students in year two to year 12 across three districts in Timor, BETTER identified a significant gap in foundational education standards. The test results showed that only one in every 36 students aged 17+ years old could solve a basic math problem. BETTER consulted with various community members, Government, church, and local organizations, to develop its thesis. The urgent need for a more comprehensive curriculum and teacher support program was identified to address the root issues impacting education. ​

With the aspiration to set a new national education standard in East Timor, BETTER have created a custom curriculum. The curriculum uses the Timorese curriculum as the base, adding elements of the Australian curriculum teaching in Tetun, Portuguese, and English. To support this BETTER have created a teacher support program including lesson plans, scope and sequence and a micro-credentialed LMS program aligned to global teaching standards.​

BETTER is currently rolling out this new model of education through a ‘show not tell’ approach at the Bakhita School of Excellence in Same (Sah-May). ​

​BETTER’s school​

Bakhita School of Excellence​

Same, Manufahi, Timor-Leste​

The Bakhita School of Excellence in Same opened in 2023 welcoming its first 48 children to the Foundation year. This is the first school outside of Timor’s capital, Dili, to teach English from the Foundation year – providing an international standard of education to rural children. ​

The progressively built school will welcome up to 50 additional children every year. The school will be completed in 2035 educating up to 650 children from Foundation through to Year 12.​

BETTER’s Head Office is also located on this campus.