Teachers in Timor-Leste were told that teaching moral values and ethics was just as important as teaching their students how to read and write.
"You should spend 5-10 minutes every day teaching them moral values and ethics. It will help them become a better person in society," Franciscan Father Sebastianus Gaguk, principal of a Franciscan school in Same district, told more than 200 high school teachers participating in a one-day training session in Dili in mid-April.
The training was organized by the National Institute for Training of Teachers and Education Professionals, run by Timor-Leste’s education ministry.
Father Gaguk said that by ignoring ethics, students can be vulnerable to corruption after graduating.
"Every day teachers must encourage students to tell the truth and avoid lies. Also, no cheating during exams," said Father Gaguk.
Deputy Minister for preschool and basic education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, said that as Timor-Leste embarks on a new era, education should help build a society with strong character.