Unisa online - UNISA professor keynote speaker at international conference

Professor Sozinho Francisco Matsinhe, Learner Support’s Regional Academic Coordinator at the Pretoria Hub, was recently a keynote speaker and resource person at the International Conference on Bilingual Education “How to Help Children Learn Better”, which took place at the Democratic Republic of East Timor’s capital, Dili from 14 to 20 April 2008. Prof Matsinhe was invited by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Minister of Education of that country.

Prof Matsinhe says the main aim of the conference was to discuss East Timor’s language policy in education and in his contribution enlightened the gathering about “his research on the role indigenous languages play in bilingual education in particular; and in fostering sustainable development in general”. “Being aware of my research in those areas, UNICEF and the Minister of Education in the Democratic Republic of East Timor thought my experience would be important to what that country is trying to achieve as far as language policy in education is concerned,” he says.

He adds that there were other scholars from the south east region and beyond who were also invited to bring their inputs to the conference.