On June 5th and 9th, 2026, the Ministry of Education held two national workshops to strengthen the quality of the education system, focusing on improving school infrastructure and promoting innovation and the digitisation of educational services. 
On June 5th, Minister of Education Dulce de Jesus Soares chaired the opening of a working meeting to accelerate the implementation of quality school infrastructure in Timor-Leste. The initiative brought together representatives from the Ministry of State Administration, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Works, and the World Bank in Timor-Leste to identify solutions to improve the system’s capacity to construct, rehabilitate, and maintain schools.
At the opening session, the Minister of Education emphasised that the development of school infrastructure is directly linked to learning opportunities and the future of Timorese children. She noted that, despite progress, challenges remain, including overcrowded classrooms, dilapidated buildings, and difficulties accessing educational services in various regions of the country.
Improving school infrastructure is one of the priorities of the 9th Constitutional Government. The Executive has committed to improving approximately 1,550 classrooms across the preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. However, current estimates indicate that more than 1,900 classrooms nationwide need renovation, replacement, or substantial improvement.
As part of this effort, the Ministry of Education requested technical assistance from the World Bank to conduct a rapid assessment of the school infrastructure delivery system, with a view to developing more efficient, transparent, and sustainable mechanisms.
On June 9th, Domingos Lopes Lemos, Secretary of State for General Senior Secondary Education and Vocational Secondary Education, chaired the opening of the National Workshop on Innovation and Digitalisation of Educational Services through Effective and Efficient Communication, held at INFORDEPE’s Ian Martin Hall in Balide.
The initiative brought together 62 participants from public vocational technical schools nationwide, including multimedia teachers, education sector professionals, and representatives from Bali Business eSchool in Indonesia. This partner has supported the development of technical and vocational education in Timor-Leste.
During the meeting, topics related to innovation in teaching methodologies and the use of digital tools in the learning process—including Google platforms—were discussed to strengthen teachers’ skills and promote the modernisation of education systems.
On that occasion, the Secretary of State announced that the Government plans to begin, in the first phase, by distributing computers and projectors to public vocational technical schools; this equipment is already at the Logistics and Procurement Centre, awaiting the necessary procedures for its installation and distribution.
The workshop was also attended by the Director-General of Senior Secondary Education, Deolindo da Cruz; the National Director of General Senior Secondary Education and Acting Director of Vocational Secondary Education, Benjamin da Cruz Fernandes; the Vice President of INFORDEPE; department heads; and the CEO of Bali Business eSchool, Mirsa Umiyati.
Both initiatives are part of the Ministry of Education’s efforts to improve the quality of educational services by enhancing teaching conditions and promoting innovation and digital transformation in schools.