The Ministry of Education (ME) has requested the Technical and Vocational Secondary Agricultural Schools (ESTV) in Maliana and Natarbora to support the school meal programme by providing produce grown on their campuses to schools across all municipalities.
The Secretary of State for General Secondary Schools and Technical and Vocational Secondary Schools (ESJ–ESTV), Domingos Lopes Lemos, said that both agricultural schools currently produce a variety of crops but do not yet supply them for the school meal programme.
He explained that the purpose of his recent visit to both schools was to discuss how they must begin providing their produce to support school meals across the territory.
“Moving forward, ESTV Agricultural Schools in Maliana and Natarbora will support the school meal programme with the produce they grow,” he said.
He added that the Ministry of Education has already provided two pickup trucks to the two schools to help facilitate the distribution of produce to schools in Timor-Leste.
“Through this support, soon the schools will begin harvesting fruits and vegetables to supply meals for schoolchildren,” he explained.
He added that the Ministry of Education will continue to support both schools to further improve their practical agricultural activities.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Natarbora Technical and Vocational Agricultural School, Agustinho dos Santos, said that up to now, their agricultural school has used its produce to feed students living in the dormitories as well as to serve the surrounding community.
“This year, the Ministry of Education asked the school to assist by supplying available produce for the school meal programme,” he said.
He added that the crops they grow include kangkong (water spinach), mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, bitter melon, eggplant, and cabbage.
“We will supply all these products to schools nearby as part of the school meal programme,” said Director Santos.He expressed gratitude to the Government, through the Ministry of Education, for helping the school bring about many positive changes and allowing it to contribute produce for the school meal programme.
