The Government, through the Ministries of Education, Public Works, Planning and Strategic Investment, and Finance, conducted a visit on September 28^th, 2026, to the 12 de Outubro Filial Basic School (EBF) in Tasitolu, Dili, to monitor the construction of nine new classrooms and four toilet facilities using Block Solutions modular technology.

The visit was led by the Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, who was accompanied by the Ministers of Public Works, Samuel Marçal; of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa; and the Vice-Minister of Finance, Regina de Jesus de Sousa.

This intervention is a pilot project designed to evaluate the application of this construction system in Timor-Leste as an alternative to address the shortage of classrooms and the time and cost challenges of conventional construction, particularly in areas where access and the transport of materials pose significant challenges.

Block Solutions technology uses a modular system of interlocking blocks made from recycled materials, reducing the need to use and transport conventional building materials and accelerating construction.

The project at EBF 12 de Outubro has a budget of US$27,000 and an estimated completion timeline of two months to build nine classrooms and four toilet facilities.

During the visit, the Minister of Education emphasised the need to increase the number of classrooms, given the condition of some existing infrastructure and the number of students.

“We are currently building nine classrooms at EBF 12 de Outubro, in Tasitolu. We all know that many classrooms are already damaged, and the number of students is very high,” said Dulce de Jesus Soares.

The Minister highlighted the projected timeline for completing the project and the possibility that this solution could enable a faster response to the school’s needs.

“With [Block Solutions’] technology, we can resolve the issue in just two months and have nine high-quality classrooms ready for students to use,” she added.

Dulce de Jesus Soares also explained that construction using conventional methods can take between six months and a year and incur additional costs for transporting sand, stone, and other materials, especially to locations where access is more difficult.

With this system, “we can accelerate construction and respond quickly to the school’s needs. It is an innovative solution,” the Minister emphasised.

The Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, stated that his Ministry will continue to provide technical support for the project to ensure compliance with safety and structural integrity requirements for the new infrastructure, including its suitability for local climatic conditions.

The Vice-Minister of Finance, Regina de Jesus de Sousa, highlighted the relationship between the US$27,000 investment and the planned infrastructure—nine classrooms and four toilet facilities—compared with the costs of conventional construction methods.

The experience at EBF 12 de Outubro will enable an evaluation of the use of this technology in other schools with similar needs, particularly in areas where access and the transport of conventional building materials pose greater challenges.

The Government of Timor-Leste and the Government of the Republic of Cuba signed, on September 29^th, 2026, in Dili, a declaration extending the validity of the Cooperation Agreement in the Field of Health—signed in Havana on September 22^nd, 2022—for an additional year.

The declaration was signed by the Vice-Minister for Institutional Strengthening of Health, José dos Reis Magno, in his capacity as Acting Minister of Health, and by the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Timor-Leste, Grisel Alina Aldama Inniss, thereby enabling the continuation of cooperation in the areas of medical assistance, specialised training, human resources development, knowledge transfer, and the strengthening of health services.

Cooperation between Timor-Leste and Cuba in the health sector dates back to 2003, following a meeting between the two countries’ leaders, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and Fidel Castro, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Since then, this cooperation has included the deployment of Cuban health professionals to Timor-Leste and the training of Timorese doctors and other health professionals. The programme, initially established to train 1,000 Timorese doctors, has exceeded that goal, having contributed to the training of more than 1,500 doctors, according to data recently presented by the Cuban mission in Timor-Leste.

The presence of Cuban doctors and nurses in Timor-Leste has contributed to the provision of healthcare to the population—including primary healthcare and hospital services—and to the sharing of knowledge and experience with Timorese health professionals.

Specialised training remains a key area of this cooperation. In September of this year, 26 Timorese health professionals returned to the country after completing specialised training in Cuba, including 24 doctors and two nurses. The training covered fields such as paediatrics, radiology, oncology, cardiology, otolaryngology, psychiatry, pathological anatomy, rehabilitation medicine, and emergency and intensive care.

These professionals have been integrated into various National Health Service facilities, including the Guido Valadares National Hospital and referral hospitals in the municipalities, to strengthen the country’s capacity to provide specialised care and to support the transfer of knowledge among health professionals.

The Ambassador also highlighted Cuba’s readiness to continue training medical specialists and to develop this aspect of cooperation in Timor-Leste further.

The ceremony was also attended by the National Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Health, officials from the Office of Health Policy, Planning, Partnership, and Development, and, on the Cuban side, the Coordinator of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Timor-Leste.

The extension of the Agreement preserves the institutional framework for ongoing bilateral cooperation in the health sector, with a focus on medical assistance, specialised training, and the development of healthcare human resources.

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