Government of Timor-Leste

The Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications, Gastão de Sousa, representing the Prime Minister, opened the new building of Fatumaca School, Baucau, on May 24^th, 2016.

The new building has classrooms for the second and third grades, computer room, mechanical drawing room and carpentry room, library and offices for the Director, Vice-Director and Secretariat.

In his speech, Gastão de Sousa said that education is a priority sector. According to the Minister, the Church is a Government development partner, particularly for Education.

The School’s Director, Priest Anacleto Pires thanked the Government’s cooperation in the construction of this new building. “We promise and we vow to protect and make good use of this building, educating students for the future of the country and for the future of the Church of Timor-Leste”, said Priest Anacleto Pires.

Every year, 400 new students apply for admission, and only a maximum of 85 students are accepted, divided in 4 departments due to lack of facilities. The most experienced shortages are dormitories, classrooms, workshops and human resources, especially teachers. All the same, the aim is to ensure that most part of the municipalities throughout the country have at least one representative.

The Fatumaca School also supports Basic Education schools through its subsidiary, accommodating about two hundred students. The school is open to aspirants and novices, in order to provide training to young people with a religious vocation within the Salesian Congregation, in order to continue the work of the Salesian Mission in Timor-Leste.

The School also promotes social, pastoral and spiritual support to the population in the Fatumaca area since colonial times.

The Vice Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications, Januário Pereira, the Bishop of the Diocese of Dili, Dom Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, the Coordinator of the Civil Support, Joaquim da Costa Freitas, and Christians of Fatumaca attended this opening.