DILI, 10 november 2022 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEJD) and the New Zealand Embassy in Dili signed today an agreement for the transfer of US$1.6 million for the Eskola iha Uma program.
“We are working in partnership with the New Zealand Embassy to accelerate the process of the Eskola iha Uma program so that children in Dili municipality can access preschool education,” the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Armindo Maia said in Vila Verde, Dili.
Maia said that the budget aims to support the training for teachers, acquiring equipment, and teaching materials for the mobile library.
He said New Zealand Government had supported the preschool program and committed to continue strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
New Zealand Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Philip Hewitt recalled that the embassy had already supported several programs in the area of education, such as the HANDS program. The HANDS program is part of New Zealand’s investment in early childhood education that has been greatly appreciated by the Government of Timor-Leste. The program aimed to help the Ministry of Education to improve the way it manages early childhood education.
“We are happy to cooperate with MoEYS and we want all students to have access to good quality education in the country,” he stressed.
The National Director of Pre-School Education, Tomas Pereira, revealed that the ministry has currently registered 521 students from six villages in Dili that have benefited from the program of Eskola iha Uma.
Pereira said the program aimed to attract children to study and adopt an advanced learning style, for example, in addition to the school textbooks, the ministry’s technical team has installed a television in the learning centers to facilitate the kids’ learning process.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
