DILI, 29 july 2021 (TATOLI)— The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Culture (MESSK) held a meeting with all rectors of higher education institutions in the country to discuss the preparation for resuming the teaching and learning activities of the universities across the country.
“The topics that are discussed during the meeting include temporary suspension of the classes, and resuming the classes of the universities,” said Longuinhos dos Santos, Minister of Higher Education and Culture at Delta Nova Hall, in Dili, today.
Santos said regarding resuming the face-to-face learning, the majority of the lecturers and faculty staff have been vaccinated, saying many students haven’t got vaccinated.
“Majority of the universities’ students have not received the vaccine because they are in the municipalities. They have returned to their hometown and villages and hoping that local authorities will encourage them to get vaccinated,” he said.
Santos affirmed that vaccines are the only way to resume face-to-face learning, adding MESSK would closely coordinate with the Ministry of Health to encourage and accelerate the vaccination for universities students
At the same place, the Rector of the Institute of Business (IOB), Pedro Ximenes said that currently almost 90% of the lecturers and faculty staff at IOB had been fully vaccinated: “I don’t have the exact number regarding how many IOB’s students have received the vaccines.
Minister Santos urged universities students to receive the covid-19 vaccine so that the face-to-face learning of universities could be resumed shortly.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
