Physically handicapped youths take part in a basketball match at St. Antony Church in Dili, Timor-Leste (Photo by Thomas Ora)
Civil society groups in Timor-Leste have accused the government of failing to pay attention to the education of thousands of disabled people, which they say has helped fan the flames of discrimination against them.
The groups — including church institutions — that form the Asosiasaun Defisiensia Timor Leste (ADTL) seek to assist more than 48,000 disabled people.
"Thousands with disabilities in this country don't go through formal education, from elementary to university levels," said ADTL president, Joaquim Soares, during an event in Dili marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec.3.
"Even if they go to school, most only finish with an elementary education. Very few finish high school or university," he said.
He was responding to claims by Prime Minister Maria Rui de Araujo that the government spends US $500,000 each year helping young people with disabilities by funding organizations such as ADTL.
"It's inadequate. All the groups can do with this level of funding is provide informal education," said Soares.
"The Ministry of Education needs to open schools that do not isolate children with disabilities," he said.
"Allow children to live side by side, and tackle discrimination in society," he said.
Father David Alves da Conceicao, from St. Antonius Motael Church in Dili said its not just the government who neglects the disabled but society as a whole, including their own families. One of the main contributory factors is a lack of education, he said.
"They see them as an additional burden," the priest said.
Providing an education would allow people to contribute more to society which would also help people look upon the disabled in a whole new light, he said.
He called on the government to follow the example set by church institutions such as the Association of Institutes for Lay Missioners, which takes care and helps educate 58 disabled children who are deaf, blind or mentally handicapped.
More needs to be done to help care for and educate those who are physically or mentally different from the rest of society, he said.