Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and President of the National Parliament Maria Fernanda Lay, together with the Ministry of Education and the Civil Service Commission (CFP – acronym in Portuguese), officially opened the electronic written tests for the teacher candidates pool today. The event occurred on March 15th, 2024, in the CFP Conference Room in Dili, under the theme “Together We Build Our Nation Through Quality Education”. 
During his speech, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of a transparent system for hiring employees, highlighting the effectiveness of electronic tests, and encouraged unsuccessful candidates to persist, not lose hope and try again.
“All officials who strive for improvement must have courage and determination, not only to receive money, but to serve this land and this people. We follow a clear and transparent path to select Timorese who can educate children and make them good citizens”, declared the Prime Minister. 
The Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, explained that the Government is committed to promoting the quality of education in Timor-Leste. This is a priority in the 9th Constitutional Government’s Programme and a fundamental element for national development. She also stressed that quality education depends on qualified and dedicated teachers who inspire and motivate students.
The President of the Civil Service Commission, Agostinho Letêncio de Deus, announced that the competition attracted 14,152 candidates, of whom 13,021 were admitted to the electronic written tests. Agostinho Letêncio de Deus especially congratulated the women, the majority of the candidates. 
This electronic testing process represents a significant milestone, reflecting the joint efforts of the Government, the Ministry of Education, the Civil Service Commission, and civil society. It opens up new opportunities for teachers’ careers and demonstrates the Government’s commitment to continuous improvement of the education system. 
The electronic tests ran until April 16th, 2024, with 150 candidates assessed daily. This event marks a crucial step in building a more solid and inclusive education system in Timor-Leste.