Ministry of Education - CAFE Project renewed for four more years
The project of the Centres of Learning and School Training (CAFE), resulting from the cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science of Portugal and the Ministry of Education of Timor-Leste, was recently renewed for a period of four years.
Succeeding the Reference Schools Project, the CAFE Project reinforces its component of teacher training, through additional scientific and pedagogic training, for the benefit of national teachers who have completed their initial training, and also of the teachers of other public schools in the same educational area. This year will see the beginning of school activities in the municipalities of Viqueque and Ainaro, ensuring equal representation of the Project throughout the territory.
In spite of the recent changes in governmental structures and consequent delay in the implementation of the budget of 2015, the Ministry of Education of Timor-Leste has announced that the payment of salaries is in process.
In this new framework, the Project currently benefits 4,997 students distributed by pre-school and 1st and 2nd cycle of basic education, with 93 Portuguese teachers and 34 national teachers who have completed their additional training in the last two years, at CAFE centres. Soon, about 60 Portuguese teachers will complete the faculty of the 13 Centres.
In the framework of the agreement between the two countries, Timor-Leste is responsible for salary payments to teachers, as well as housing, transportation, health insurance and travel, and other perks.
