The Government of Portugal, through the Instituto Camões in Timor-Leste, has provided funding totalling $140,000 to rehabilitate classrooms at the Primary School EBC Farol, in the capital Dili, to ensure a safe learning environment.
The Ambassador of Portugal to Timor-Leste, Manuela Bairros, said the support was made possible through an MoU signed between the Ministry of Education and the Government of Portugal to fund the rehabilitation of schools in Timor-Leste.
“The Government of Portugal supported the rehabilitation of the school, including seven classrooms, to ensure a safe learning process for students,” she said.
Ambassador Bairros explained that they supported the rehabilitation of primary school in Farol because the building dates back to the Portuguese era and the Portuguese government wished to restore it.
She highlighted that the Portuguese government is committed to continuing support for the Ministry of Education to help develop school infrastructure in Timor-Leste.
“We will continue to support efforts to create better learning conditions for students and teachers, especially in terms of infrastructure,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, said that the classroom rehabilitation at EBC Farol is intended to help students study in a safe and protected environment.
“On behalf of all students and teachers, I express our gratitude to Instituto Camões, through the Portuguese Embassy, for supporting us in rehabilitating the classrooms at EBC Farol. We ask that these facilities be well maintained and used for learning,” she said.
She added that the rehabilitation supported by Portugal covers only the seven classrooms of the school, while the Ministry of Education will be responsible for completing the remaining school facilities.
She also said that the ministry has also begun rehabilitating 42 classrooms across 14 basic education schools located in the municipalities of Baucau, Liquiçá, Ermera, Manatuto, and Viqueque.
Meanwhile, the Director of EBC Farol said the school needs improved facilities and conditions to support the students.
“The infrastructure is improving now, but we still need school desks and chairs for the students. Every year, we face the problem of not having enough chairs and tables,” she said.
She added that the school has already submitted a request to the Ministry of Education for 300 school desks and chairs to fully equip the classrooms at the school.
