DILI, 29 April 2026 (TATOLI) – A group of Timorese primary and secondary school students, mostly from public schools including rural and remote areas, has won several distinctions at the International Creativity and Innovation Award (ICIA) held in Cambodia in April 2026, in both online and in-person categories.
The delegation was led by the Ministry of Education through the Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO, in coordination with basic and secondary education directorates. In total, 10 student groups were nominated to represent schools from Dili, Aileu, Baucau, Viqueque and Liquiçá.
The competition brought together participants from 27 countries across Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, competing in both online and face-to-face formats.
In the online category held on 11 April, Timorese students competed against peers from 14 countries and secured three silver medals and three bronze medals. The awards went to teams from Public General Secondary School No. 1 Baucau, Public General Secondary School No. 1 Liquiçá, Finantil Public General Secondary School in Dili, 4 de Setembro Public General Secondary School in Viqueque, Dom Baumeta Central Basic School in Aileu, and Fatumeta Central Basic School No. 3 in Dili.
In the onsite participation, Timor-Leste achieved even greater victory in the face-to-face competition among 13 participating countries. A team from Santo António Teulale Catholic Basic School in Baucau became the protagonist through the project “Statistics from Recycling: How to Find Mode, Median, and Mean using Bottle Caps, Skewers, and Styrofoam.”
This project successfully brought home three awards: the Grand Award, Titanium, and a spot in the Top 10 Challenge from the Cambodian Minister of Environment.
Other Timorese teams were also recognised. Students from Dom Baumeta Central Basic School in Aileu won a silver medal for a project developing bioplastic from household materials. Another team from Santo António Teulale Catholic Basic School in Baucau earned a bronze medal with the project “Number Sequences Appearing in Tais.”
Teachers were also acknowledged, with Zélia Alves da Cruz from Dom Baumeta Central Basic School in Aileu receiving the “Teach Me Award” (Top 3 category).
The results underscore the participation of students from diverse educational backgrounds, including rural areas, and reflect the increasing involvement of public schools in international initiatives that promote creativity and innovation.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
