DILI, 18 august 2023 (TATOLI) – The review of the National Qualifications System for Timor-Leste (SNQ-TL) is a fundamental task that will contribute to improving the quality of public and private higher institutions, as well as centers of informal training, to guarantee the most qualified human resources, revealed the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture, José Honório.
The minister mentioned the importance of revising the SNQ-TL to guarantee a more prosperous and sustainable future for Timorese youth.
“It is important to align the National Qualifications System with recognized international standards to facilitate the mobility of workers and students, promote the interest of Timor-Leste among investors and partners, and contribute to improving the employability of citizens since it ensures that the skills and knowledge of graduates are in line with the needs of the labor market”, said the minister in his speech, read by the Director-General, Maria Filomena Lay, in Balide, Dili.
The minister revealed that the review allows a more concrete assessment of the skills of recent graduates to facilitate the planning of capacity building and training programs in priority areas such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Likewise, The Executive Director of the National Strategy of the Secretariat of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE), Jenifer António Pui, also highlighted the importance of revising that system to evaluate the courses taught in the formal and non-formal education systems to provide future Timorese with adequate training in order to respond to the necessary requirements to get a job.
He added that Timor-Leste has potential in areas such as tourism and agriculture and, therefore, it is necessary to invest in human resources in the hospitality and agricultural fields.
The Director of the National Institute for the Development of Work (INDMO), Isabel Fernandes de Lima, said that the SNQ-TL covers and regulates the qualifications offered by higher education institutions, such as universities, institutes, academies, and polytechnics, as well as professional training centers, allowing the National Agency for Academic Assessment and Accreditation (ANAAA), SEFOPE, and INDMO to qualify and accredit these institutions and courses based on a set of international criteria and standards.
According to the data, Timor-Leste has more than 70 public and private training centers, of which 25 were accredited by INDMO and the rest by SEFOPE and ANAAA.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor : Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
