DILI, 27 Maret 2025 (TATOLI) –The Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, stated that the Government of Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Education, will close any international school that does not meet the required criteria.
“We have many international schools operating in Timor-Leste, but some are still not registered with the Ministry of Education. We will continue to require them to register and will carry out inspections of school infrastructure, the learning environment, and the quality of education. If they do not meet the established standards, the Ministry of Education will order them to close,” Dulce de Jesus Soares told reporters after the Council of Ministers meeting at the Government Palace in Dili on Wednesday (March 26).
She reported that a review by the Directorate of Evaluation, Licensing, and Accreditation found many international schools that have been established without being registered with the Ministry of Education, yet continue to operate and conduct learning activities in Timor-Leste.
Previously, António Tomas Maia, Coordinator of the Directorate of Evaluation, Licensing, and Accreditation, said that by 2025, he will focus on evaluating every school that has received an operating license.
Maia added that by 2020, international schools such as Tais International School (Dili), St. Jude Thaddeus International School (Dili), and Dili International School had already received licenses from the Ministry of Education.
Similarly, in 2022, the Ministry of Education granted licenses to Heritage International School (Dili), St. Mary’s International School (Dili), Anthony’s International School (Dili), International School Renover (Ainaro), Li’l Active Minds International School (Manatuto), and St. Paulo Methodist International School (Dili).
To date, 15 international schools have received operational licenses between 2020 and 2023.
Maia also mentioned that the evaluation process is based on three standards: infrastructure and facilities, pedagogical quality, and school management.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
