Government of Timor-Leste

In Lisbon on Friday the 2^nd of January Timor-Leste’s Minister of Education, Bendito dos Santos Freitas and Portugal’s Minister of Education and Science, Nuno Crato, signed an agreement on cooperation on the implementation and operation of the project of School Learning and Teacher Training Centers of Timor-Leste.

This bilateral cooperation, which will involve around 150 Portuguese teachers coming to Timor-Leste in 2015, is set to build on the success of assistance currently focused on 11 Reference Schools spread throughout the nation where Portuguese and Timorese colleagues are working together to achieve the best educational practices in teaching the National Curriculum of Timor-Leste.

Since 2011 these schools have been allocated Portuguese teachers to teach pre-school and the 1^st and 2^nd cycles of basic education as well as offer in-service training of Timorese teachers.

Plans for 2015 also include the establishment of Reference Schools in Viqueque and Ainaro. This will bring the total number of Reference Schools to 13 with one operating in each of Timor-Leste’s districts.

Portuguese Minister of Education and Science, His Excellency Nuno Crato, said that the cooperation between Portugal and Timor-Leste in the field of education had been “exemplary”.

Minister of Education of Timor-Leste, His Excellency Bendito dos Santos Freitas noted that the project was of high significance to both Portugal and Timor-Leste and expressed his appreciation for the efforts of all the Portuguese and Timorese teachers who had participated in the bilateral cooperation so far. He welcomed the new teachers due to come to Timor-Leste in 2015 and conveyed appreciation to the Government of Portugal for this boost in cooperation.