Government of Timor-Leste

Today, May 5^th, the Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, and Portugal’s Secretary of State for Culture, Alberto Santos, together with Portugal’s Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Duarte Bué Alves, celebrated World Portuguese Language Day with students at the CAFE School in Dili. 

In her remarks, the Minister of Education emphasised that May 5^th is a date of great significance for all Portuguese-speaking countries. She emphasised that Timor-Leste celebrates this occasion with pride, as Portuguese is not an imposed language but a chosen one, enshrined in the Constitution as the official language of the Republic and affirmed as an integral part of the national identity.

The Minister also noted that the Ministry of Education has been resolutely implementing a series of initiatives to promote the teaching and use of the Portuguese language among children, families, and communities. In this context, educational materials to promote the Portuguese language and its use in daily school life were recently distributed to all public schools in the country, as part of an ongoing commitment to educational quality and the future of Timor-Leste.

In her speech, she also highlighted the importance of passing the new Framework Law on Education, describing it as a structural milestone for the national education system. She emphasised that Article 9 establishes Tetum and Portuguese as the languages of instruction, reflecting a vision of education that is inclusive, rigorous, and deeply rooted in Timorese identity.

“Teaching and learning Portuguese in Timor-Leste is an act of remembrance, as this language has accompanied our resistance and our emergence as a people. But it is also an act of responsibility, because what we teach today will shape the country we become tomorrow,” she said.

The Minister also noted that, throughout this week, Dili is hosting important ministerial meetings of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) on education and culture, bringing together representatives from member states to discuss a shared future grounded in education, culture, and cooperation.

Timor-Leste is proud to host this meeting and to confidently affirm its ability to build an ambitious, high-quality education system with the Portuguese language at its core.

Lastly, the Minister expressed her appreciation to the teachers—both Timorese and Portuguese—for their dedicated work, often carried out under challenging conditions, and to the families who continue to believe in the school as a fundamental pillar of development.

The minister also urged them to “study with dedication. Read with curiosity. Ask questions without fear. Every word you learn and every idea you express in Portuguese is a step along your path.”