Government of Timor-Leste

On October 15^th, 2026, in Dili, the Ministry of Education and the Secretariat of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE - acronym in Portuguese) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation across the education, vocational training, and employment sectors, with a view to developing skills and providing young people with access to internships and employment opportunities, both in Timor-Leste and abroad.

The agreement was signed by Domingos Lopes Lemos, Secretary of State for General Secondary Education and Technical-Vocational Secondary Education, and Rogério Araújo Mendonça, Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment.

The Memorandum sets out several priority areas for cooperation, including harmonising qualifications and curricula for Technical-Vocational Secondary Education with the National Qualifications System, in collaboration with the National Institute for Workforce Development (INDMO, I.P.).

The agreement also plans to establish a Pilot Centre for Languages for Work at the Becora Public Technical-Vocational Secondary School, aimed at strengthening young people’s language skills and preparing them for employment opportunities in national and international markets.

As part of the transition from secondary education to the labour market, the agreement aims to improve graduating students’ access to national internship programmes and to international labour mobility schemes. Cooperation also includes career guidance in schools, joint job and career fairs, and initiatives to support youth self-employment.

The Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment emphasised the need to strengthen cooperation among the education system, vocational training, the private sector, and employers to better align young people’s skills with labour market demands.

“I believe education and vocational training must be aligned with labour market needs. Therefore, we need to strengthen cooperation with the private sector and employers to ensure that students not only obtain a diploma or certificate but also gain practical experience and the capacity to respond to market demands,” stated Rogério Araújo Mendonça.

Regarding international labour mobility, the Secretary of State further noted the need to prepare Timorese workers with technical and language skills, discipline, and responsibility, and to ensure they are aware of their rights and workplace protections.

The Secretary of State for General Secondary Education and Technical-Vocational Secondary Education highlighted the cooperation established by the Memorandum as a means of aligning students’ acquired skills with labour market requirements and increasing opportunities available upon completion of secondary education.

The Memorandum will be implemented through a joint action plan that sets out the responsibilities of the institutions involved, together with monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.