DILI, 30 october 2023 (TATOLI) – The Cuban government declared that it wants to resume a cooperation program with Timor-Leste, which ended in 2013, in the education field. The focus will be on areas such as literacy for adults, sports, and Spanish language training for students who pretend to continue their studies at the Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL).
The statement was made by Minister of Education Dulce de Jesus Soares on the sidelines of a meeting with the ambassador of Cuba to Timor-Leste, Grisel Innis, in Vila Verde, Dili.
“We discussed several issues in the sector of education, in particular the reactivation of the literacy program for all teachers with a special necessity (recurrent teaching), teacher training in physics education, as well as the opening of the Spanish language training for students of the faculty of medicine at UNTL”.
The government added that during its meeting with the ambassador, it received a letter from her counterpart, Ena Elsa Velázques, to underline the commitment of the Cuban government to support the executive of Timorese in the development of the education sector in the country.
Asked about the beginning of implementation and the characteristics of this kind of cooperation, the minister said that a meeting is only an initial discussion, as the two parties will hold further discussions before implementing the program.
In her turn, the ambassador of Cuba, Grisel Innis, considered it an honor to meet with the Minister Dulce de Jesus to discuss and analyze the possibility of the assistance of the Cuban executive in the development of the education sector in Timor-Leste.
“We are very happy to have the opportunity to discuss and analyze how to ensure the continuity of the projects that Cuba has been developing in Timor-Leste in the area of education. As you heard, a minister detailed the various areas that will be supported immediately, based on the request letter sent by our government and wishes expressed by the Minister of Education of Cuba,” stressed the Cuban diplomat.
Grisel Innis praised both sides, the Timorese as well as the Cuban ministers of education, for having committed to making every effort during their mandates to be able to contribute to the development of Timor-Leste, especially the young generation, so that there is “development and adaptation according to the needs of the country in accordance with what the people Timorese require and is very important: attention to special education.”
Journalist : Afonso do Rosário
Translator : Camilio de Sousa
Editor : Maria Auxiliadora/Filomeno Martins
