COE Exchange

The people of East Timor were under Indonesian rule until 1999 when they declared their independence and established a new government in which Portuguese rather than Indonesian was the official language. However, for decades, children had been taught the Indonesian language in school although many members of society preferred use of Portuguese and shunned Indonesian. After independence, Portuguese was made the sole language used in universities in East Timor which created problems for Indonesian educated children who were less fluent in Portuguese.

Juanita Mario was educated in East Timor but decided to attend college in Indonesia. “We don’t have the facilities yet here(East Timor). I grew up with Indonesian being taught in school so it was familiar.” Another factor in her family’s decision to have her attend an Indonesian university was the lower cost. Although, East Timor abolished school fees after independence, it cost $150-$500 per semester at their universities which is considerably higher than what is charged in Indonesia.

East Timor is facing educational challenges that are all too familiar in societies which have gained independence after years of colonial rule. The Indonesian colonial assimilation process instilled not merely language but also cultural images which still constitute an important aspect of youth culture even after their nation became independent. It is estimated that 500 of the 3,500 East Timor students attending Indonesian universities have taken Indonesian citizenship in order to avoid paying college fees. Poorer East Timor students often have to abandon their heritage in order to get a college education which frequently results in finding work in Indonesia rather than returning home.

East Timor university students who return home with an Indonesian college degree encounter discrimination from East Timor students who attended local universities. The higher cost of East Timor universities means students from Portuguese speaking wealthier families are more likely to attend such institutions. They pride themselves as being of Portuguese heritage and look down on those who have Indonesian college degrees.

The East Timor experience is all too familiar with colonial education in Africa. It was common in British and French colonies to send bright African students to universities in England or France in order to foster the concept of assimilation of the best and brightest. The process of colonialism lingers on years after gaining independence.