The government of New Zealand, through its embassy in Timor-Leste, will establish a road construction teacher-training faculty at the Professional Training Center of Dom Bosco, Dili.
New Zealand ambassador Jonathan Schwass said they will bring specialist trainers from New Zealand to Timor-Leste next year to provide the training to teachers.
He said the project would be carried out in partnership with the State Secretariat for Vocational Training, Policy and Employment (SEPFOPE) and the International Labor Organization (ILO).
“This course is targeted to people who are working in road construction so they can learn the techniques from the specialists,” Schwass said.
The project was mooted following an appeal from the State Secretariat for Private Sector Affairs (SEAPRI) and ILO to the New Zealand government to provide assistance to the infrastructure sector, as it was a major concern in Timor-Leste.
SEPFOPE general director Jacinto Gusmao Barros said minimum standards had been established in construction but even so, trainer capacity should be improved.
Barros said the Asian Development Bank had supported the project by providing an office and office equipment.
In addition, the Australian government is working with SEPFOPE to provide teacher training in the automotive industry.
