DILI, 09 may 2022 (TATOLI) – The construction and rehabilitation of 202 schools and 657 classrooms in Timor-Leste has reached 6% in the first quarter of 2022, said the National Director of School Infrastructure Development Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEJD), Helio Lopes.
“Overall, the construction and rehabilitation of the educational community project have reached 6%, although two schools have reached 53% and the Cabira-Oan Primary School in the city of Viqueque has reached 60%,” Lopes told Tatoli, in Vila Verde, Dili.
He highlighted that the ministry had decided to cancel the rehabilitation of the Escola Básica Filial de Bucoli and resume construction of a new one, due to the damage caused by natural disasters, in December “
“Construction and rehabilitation of 18 of the 202 schools have stalled due to dangerous road conditions in very remote areas and property disputes,” he added.
The 18 schools that have not yet withdrawn 25% of Community Project funds from the National Commercial Bank of Timor-Leste (BNCTL) are located in Bobonaro, Ermera, Baucau, Dili, Liquiçá, Manatuto, Viqueque, and Ainaro.
“Regarding the rehabilitation of classrooms at 10 de Dezembro Secondary School, there has been a misappropriation of property. So, schools cannot withdraw funds for the rehabilitation,” he said.
In addition, the Director of the Dili Education Office, Carlito da Silva, said that 16 schools in the capital city of Dili were also involved in the construction and rehabilitation project.
“We have a total of 16 schools, 12 of which are in the rehabilitation process with four others in the rehabilitation process as well,” he said.
MEJD and the National Bank Commerce of Timor-Leste (BNCTL) signed last year an agreement for the construction of 204 educational infrastructure and 657 classrooms, with a budget of more than US$20 million.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
