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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 7th 2025
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Decree-Law on the new Statute of the National University of Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL), presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, José Honório da Costa Pereira Jerónimo, and the Rector of UNTL, João Soares Martins.
The aim of this statute is to reformulate the UNTL By-laws, adjusting its organizational structure and management to better meet the current demands of higher education. The aim is to ensure a more efficient organization adapted to the new needs of the institution, strengthening its mission to create, disseminate and apply knowledge for the benefit of national development.
The new By-laws introduces significant changes to UNTL’s internal structure, including the creation of new bodies and the redefinition of the competencies of some existing bodies. These changes aim to optimize the university’s management, promote greater interdisciplinarity in teaching and research, and ensure better use of resources.
With the entry into force of this law, Decree-Law no. 16/2010, of October 20th, which established the previous UNTL’s By-laws, will be revoked.
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According to the project presented by the Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, the Council of Ministers decided to authorize the expenditure for the construction of the Dotik – Alas Road section, in the Municipality of Manufahi, with a length of 16.25 km and an estimated value of 15.396 million US dollars.
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After analyzing the report state of the process of Reforming the Management of Human Resources in the Civil Service, presented by the President of the Civil Service Commission, Agostinho Letêncio de Deus, the Council of Ministers decided to approve the temporary suspension of the recruitment of new civil servants, with the aim of ensuring more efficient and sustainable management of the state’s human resources.
This measure comes as part of the preparation of structuring proposals led by the Working Group for the Reform of Public Administration Human Resources Management, which include, among other things, define the ideal size of the workforce and creating a new paradigm for the public administration career system.
The suspension now approved applies to new civil servants but does not cover merit-based selection processes for management and senior management positions and civil servants who carry out special functions, including the recruitment of Civil Servants. The institutions should, as a priority, adopt internal mobility mechanisms to meet staffing needs, in conjunction with the Civil Service Commission.
This measure will remain in place for as long as it takes to analyze the ideal size of the Civil Service and present a new paradigm for the career system in the Civil Service.
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The Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, gave a presentation on the proposed amendments to the draft of the new Basic Law on Education, drawn up by Parliament’s G Committee.
The revision of the sector’s legal framework aims to ensure greater regulatory coherence, in line with the recently approved legislation governing the different levels of education. Among the main objectives are the promotion of inclusive and equitable education, the enhancement of teacher training and career progression, the adaptation of legislation to local reality and the reinforcement of the state’s commitment to quality education for all. It also includes updating terminology that is currently out of use, in order to ensure alignment with modern pedagogical precepts already enshrined in current legislation.
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The Council of Ministers has decided to approve the concept for the new President Nicolau Lobato international airport project.
Lastly, the Vice-Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Maria da Costa Rangel, presented the Council of Ministers with the status Report of Timor-Leste’s accession process as a full member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). END