Education Ministry warns against enrolling children in unapproved international schools in Timor-Leste

DILI, 01 April 2025 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Education, through the Office of Evaluation, Licensing, and Accreditation (GALA-Tetun), has warned parents not to enroll their children in any unapproved international schools operating in Timor-Leste.

GALA urged parents to carefully verify the status of international schools before enrolling their children to ensure that the schools are authorized to operate in the country.

GALA said that the Education Ministry, therefore, urged parents not to enroll their children in any international schools that are not accredited in the country, as they are not recognized by the state: “Consequently, the Ministry will not recognize certificates (Ijasah) issued by unlicensed schools.”

GALA released the advisory in response to complaints from parents regarding the status of international schools in the country.

“The Ministry of Education received complaints from parents about international schools that have already received operational license, therefore all international schools that have received operational licensing will be subjected to a comprehensive evaluation by the Office of Evaluation, Licensing, and Accreditation (GALA) of the Ministry of Education to assess their compliance with minimum international standards,” GALA said in a statement.

Under the provisions of No. 5, Article 9 of Decree-Law No. 29/2012, of July 4, which establishes the legal framework for the Accreditation and Evaluation of the Education System concerning pre-school, basic, and secondary education, in conjunction with No. 2, Article 9 of the Ministerial Diploma of February 1, which approves the Regulation for the Licensing of Education and Teaching Establishments, this diploma stipulates that pre-school, basic, and secondary education establishments must obtain a license to operate.

“In this case, the Ministry of Education would like to inform the public that, Ministerial Decree Number 03, dated January 21, 2025, on Suspension of Conceding New Operational Licensing to International Pre-School, Basic and Secondary Education Establishments, prescribes that no new requests for international schools will be accepted by the Ministry effective 21st January 2025 until further notice,” GALA announced.

The Education Ministry announced that 15 international schools are licensed to operate in Timor-Leste, including:

Dili International School (Pre-School, Basic Education, and Secondary Education)
Tais International School (Pre-School, Basic Education, and Secondary Education)
St. Jude Thaddeus International School (Pre-School, Basic Education, and Secondary Education)
Heritage International School (Pre-School, Basic Education, and Secondary Education)
St. Mary’s International School (Pre-School, Basic Education, and Secondary Education)
St. Anthony’s International School (Pre-School and Basic Education only)
International School Renovar (Pre-School only, Ainaro)
International School Li’l Active Minds (Pre-School only, Manatuto)
International School St. Paul Methodist (Basic Education only)
Pelican Grammar School (Pre-School, Basic Education, and Secondary Education)
Singapore International School (Basic Education only)
Z & Z International School (Pre-School and Basic Education only)
Maharlika International School (Pre-School, Basic Education, and Secondary Education)
Grace Y Verdad (Basic Education only)
QSI International School (Basic Education and Secondary Education only).

The Education Ministry also released a list of nine international schools that submitted their applications to the Ministry on or before January 21, 2025 (in accordance with Ministerial Decree No. 03, dated January 21), but have not received operational license:

QSI International School (Pre-School only)
The Adventist International School (TAIS) – Viqueque (Pre-School and Basic Education only)
The Adventist International School (TAIS) – Manufahi (Pre-School and Basic Education only)
The Adventist International School (TAIS) – Baucau (Pre-School and Basic Education only)
The Adventist International School (TAIS) – Lautem (Pre-School and Basic Education only)
International Quesadhip Ruak School (Pre-School and Basic Education only)
Light House International School(Pre-School only)
Dr. Azevedo Marcal International School (Pre-School and Basic Education only)
Eagle’s International School (Pre-School and Basic Education only)

GALA urged unaccredited international schools that are not on the list above to immediately cease their operations in Timor-Leste.

GALA stressed that international schools that have been licensed are required to meet the following criteria:

Must have a 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡–𝑇𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝐴𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑃𝑇𝐴).
The school must ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑃𝑇𝐴 𝑚𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠.
Must maintain 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑃𝑇𝐴 𝑚𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠.
Must have a 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑜𝑥, to receive suggestions from the community and parents.
Each classroom must provide a 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 2𝑚² 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡.
Toilets must be 𝑘𝑒𝑝𝑡 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑛.
Teachers must hold a 𝐿𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑇𝑒𝑎𝑐her (𝐿𝑃𝑇) 𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒 or a license from the country of origin.