Dili, June 19, 2025 (Média Democracia) – Active students from Universidade Oriental Timor-Lorosa’e (UNITAL) held a press conference regarding the political statements made by Member of Parliament (MP) Luis Roberto from the KUNTO bench during the National Parliament’s plenary session on 9 and 16 June 2025. The press conference took place at UNITAL University this Wednesday.
Spokesperson Lucio Ximenes stated that MP Luis Roberto’s political assertions, addressed to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and exercised by the President of Parliament, including other opposition MPs, as well as national and international media observers through the Parliament’s media channel both domestically and abroad concerned the quality of universities in Timor-Leste.
“During the plenary session, MP Luis Roberto questioned private universities and specifically targeted UNITAL, equating it with other private universities allegedly lacking in quality, as well as criticizing the student system, administrative procedures, and bureaucracy at UNITAL. We, the active students, would like to formally request MP Luis Roberto to present credible and accurate data and evidence regarding the issues he mentioned in the plenary session,” said spokesperson Lucio Ximenes.
He added that MP Luis Roberto alleged that UNITAL accepts new students without requiring proper high school diplomas, requesting only official declarations from village authorities. Some university staff are accused of enrolling students without following proper administrative procedures, facilitating certain students to advance beyond three or even five semesters without merit.
“MP Luis Roberto also claimed that some staff members have engaged in administrative malpractice and irregularities at UNITAL, particularly within the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (SISPOL), Public Administration Department. Additionally, he claims to have received information from students and certain staff at his residence that some students have not attended classes yet are allowed to advance through multiple semesters,” the spokesperson explained.
Therefore, the students of Universidade Oriental Timor-Lorosa’e demand that MP Luis Roberto provide factual evidence to support his political arguments raised by the KUNTO bench during the National Parliament’s plenary meeting.
“We, UNITAL students, would like to clarify that the statements made by MP Luis Roberto in the plenary session which undermine the credibility of private universities like UNITAL must be addressed responsibly by the legislative body that represents the people in the National Parliament,” he said.
He added that all active students at UNITAL observe that MP Luis Roberto’s remarks are unproductive and do not serve the citizens in need of proper education and legislation. According to them, MP Luis Roberto cannot represent students in the Parliament because UNITAL students are not engaged in politics or legislation-making processes.
“We study at UNITAL because of our personal circumstances. Still, we are receiving quality education comparable to other private universities in fields such as Political Science, Economics, Law, Education, and Agriculture, which provide us with essential and proper scientific knowledge,” he continued.
The students also demanded that MP Luis Roberto, who represents the people in Parliament, as well as higher education institutions such as ANAA (National Accreditation and Assessment Agency) and foundation bodies, take into account these demands.
“We, active UNITAL students, demand that MP Luis Roberto present solid proof that people without high school diplomas have been admitted to UNITAL, and that some students advance through several semesters without following administrative processes, with certain staff members practicing administrative malpractice,” he emphasized.
He stated that UNITAL students are open to being questioned, but MP Luis Roberto must properly use his legislative competencies in public forums when discussing the academic quality of universities based on merit.
“We ask the higher education authority and ANAA to conduct a scientific seminar to compile evidence from accreditation processes and invite MP Luis Roberto to participate, using his legislative function to elaborate and pass laws while also auditing and understanding UNITAL students and the future quality of private universities,” he mentioned.
He also urged the Ministry of Higher Education and ANAA to jointly investigate the problems occurring at the university, as ANAA must justify the accreditation results that continue to rate universities with a ‘B’ value each year.
He also called on Funatil Foundation to look into the controversy sparked by MP Luis Roberto in Parliament and circulating on social media, to ensure maximum quality control for all students in the nation’s universities.
For these reasons, the active UNITAL students held the press conference to seek fair and credible justification from MP Luis Roberto to present facts, evidence, and data to the UNITAL students and other private universities nationwide.
Reporting: Nelfiano
Photo: Nelfiano