DILI, 03 April 2025 (TATOLI) – Education Minister Dulce de Jesus and the Portuguese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Manuela Bairos, in the presence of the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the rehabilitation of seven classrooms at Farol Basic School in Dili.
The MoU outlines a plan for the rehabilitation of the classrooms, aiming to address infrastructure challenges in the country’s education system and provide better learning environments for Timorese students.
The rehabilitation project will be financed by the Camões Institute with an amount of US$135,000.
The four-month rehabilitation project is set to begin next month and will be concluded in August 2025.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Dulce thanked the Portuguese government for its support, saying that the rehabilitation of the classrooms will improve learning spaces for Timorese students.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Bairos stated that Farol Basic Education is an institution with a long history, noting that many students and teachers have passed through the school. “Not only do we aim to rehabilitate the classrooms, which require effort to improve their conditions, but we are also preserving a piece of Timor-Leste’s history and the history of education.”
In the interview after the ceremony, President Horta expressed his hope for continued collaboration between the two nations, emphasizing the importance of Portuguese continuing support in improving Timor-Leste’s education sector.
The signing ceremony at Farol Basic Education School was attended by education officials, diplomatic representatives, and community members, highlighting the significance of this bilateral cooperation in Timor-Leste’s ongoing educational development efforts.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
