DILI, March 13, 2021 (TATOLI) – A Euro Atlantic flight from Lisbon will arrive at the Nicolau Lobato Airport this Monday (15/05) in Dili, bringing more than 240 Timorese and foreign passengers including the crucial cargo.
“The total number of passengers is 240 including Timorese and Foreign Citizens, mostly are the Portuguese teachers from the Learning and Training Centers (CAFE),” Minister of Transport and Communications, José Agustinho da Silva told Tatoli today.
According to the Minister, the flight is scheduled for march 14 and will be landed in March 15 morning, at the Nicolau Lobato International Airport, Dili.
Minister Agustinho added that this flight has been coordinating by the Government, the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC), Ministry of Health and Integrated Crisis Management Center (CIGC).
The Director-General of Consular Affairs and Timorese Communities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC), José António Amorim Dias, said that among the 240 passengers, 104 are teachers of CAFÉ schools and 136 Timorese.
The Minister of Education, Youth and Sports (MEJD), Armindo Maia, had previously informed that this his office was dealing with the process of returning the Portuguese teachers.
The Portuguese Ambassador in Dili, José Pedro Machado Vieira, had also confirmed that a meeting with MEJD had taken place regarding the arrival of CAFE teachers.
“There are 33 of Portuguese teachers in Timor-Leste and the rest will come in March with EuroAtlantic flight,” Ambassador Vieira said.
The CAFE Project is the result of cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science of Portugal and the Ministry of Education of Timor-Leste. CAFE is present in all municipalities including the Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse and Ambeno (RAEOA) and the schools have total of 9,900 students.
Following the agreement signed by bort countries in 2015, Timor-Leste is responsible for the payments of the salary for the Portuguese teachers as well as accommodation, transport, health and travel insurance and other expenses.
Journalist: Maria Auxiliadora
Editor: Zezito Silva
