The Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, inaugurated the 20 de Agosto Branch Basic School (EBF – acronym in Portuguese) on September 10th, 2026, in the Passa-Hei hamlet, Talimoro village, Ermera Administrative Post and Municipality. On the same day, she visited Fahiteen Branch Basic School (EBF – acronym in Portuguese) 1 and 2 to monitor the implementation of the School Meals Programme and the teaching and learning process.
The inauguration ceremony for EBF 20 de Agosto was attended by the Goodwill Ambassador for Education, Kirsty Sword Gusmão; representatives of the organisation Spend It Well; municipal and local authorities; school leadership; teachers; students; parents and guardians; and community members.
The new school infrastructure is the result of cooperation among the Ministry of Education, Spend It Well, donors, and the local community, with the aim of improving access to education in rural areas.
At the ceremony, Minister Dulce de Jesus Soares highlighted Spend It Well’s contribution to the construction and rehabilitation of schools nationwide.
“I feel proud because an organisation like Spend It Well—despite being a small NGO—has managed to build and rehabilitate many schools in a relatively short time. It is a very significant contribution to the Ministry of Education,” she stated.
The Minister also emphasised that the new school should serve not only current students but also future generations. “The support we receive today will benefit not only the students currently attending this school but also future generations,” she stated.
Dulce de Jesus Soares also expressed her gratitude to the project’s main donor, Dr Gerry McGushin, for financial support; to Spend It Well’s technical team for their work; and to the community for its involvement. She likewise recognised the contribution of the Goodwill Ambassador for Education, Kirsty Sword Gusmão, to cooperation between the Ministry and the organisation.
The Minister appealed to parents, guardians, and the community to preserve the new facilities. “Please consider this school as an asset and an important resource for the entire community. Students will use this space daily to learn and develop their skills,” she said.
Still in Ermera Municipality, the Minister visited Fahiteen EBF 1 and 2, where she observed the preparation and distribution of school meals and verified compliance with the established menu. The visit also included observing classes and the interaction between teachers and students.
The Ministry of Education will continue to conduct supervision and monitoring of the School Meals Programme, in coordination with the Ministry of State Administration, to verify compliance with established rules and standards.
The School Meals Programme aims to improve student nutrition by providing access to healthy, nutritious daily meals, to support concentration, participation, and school attendance, and to promote the use of local products by purchasing food from farmers and producers.