Public school students, including those from remote areas, win international awards for creativity and innovation
A group of Timorese students from Primary and Secondary Schools (Years 1-9) and Senior Secondary Schools (Years 10–12), mostly from public schools—including those in rural and remote areas—won several awards at the International Creativity and Innovation Award (ICIA) competition, held in April 2026 in Cambodia, with both online and in-person participation. 
The event was organised by the Ministry of Education, through the National Commission of Timor-Leste for UNESCO, in collaboration with the departments of Primary and Secondary School (Years 1-9) and Senior Secondary (Years 10–12). In total, ten student groups were selected to represent schools from Dili, Aileu, Baucau, Viqueque, and Liquiçá.
The contest brought together participants from 27 countries across Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, with some competing online and others in person.
At the online competition held on April 11th, Timorese students competed against participants from 14 countries and won three silver and three bronze medals. The awards were presented to groups from Baucau Public General Senior Secondary School No. 1, Liquiçá Public General Senior Secondary School No. 1, Finantil Public General Senior Secondary School in Dili, Viqueque Public General Senior Secondary School 4 de Setembro, Dom Baumeta Central Primary and Secondary School (Years 1-9) School (Aileu), and Fatumeta Central Primary and Secondary School (Years 1-9) School No. 3 (Dili).
At the in-person competition, Timor-Leste also achieved outstanding results among the 13 participating countries. A group from the Santo António de Teulale Catholic Primary and Secondary School (Years 1-9) in Baucau won the Grand Award, the Titanium Award, and the Top 10 Challenge Award, presented by the Cambodian Ministry of the Environment, for a project focused on applying statistics to recycling.
Other Timorese groups were also recognised, including students from the Dom Baumeta Central Primary and Secondary School (Years 1-9) in Aileu, who won a silver medal for a bioplastics project made from household materials, and another group from the Catholic Primary and Secondary School (Years 1-9) of Santo António of Teulale in Baucau, who won a bronze medal for a project on numerical sequences in traditional patterns.
The country’s participation was also recognised in the teachers’ category, with the “Teach Me Award” (Top 3) presented to teacher Zélia Alves da Cruz of the Dom Baumeta Central Primary and Secondary School (Years 1-9) in Aileu.
The results reflect the participation of students from diverse educational backgrounds, including those from rural areas, and highlight the involvement of public schools in international initiatives to promote creativity and innovation.
