Dili, November 05, 2026 (Média Democracia) – The Ministry of Education (ME) together with the Government of Vietnam formed a joint team to identify and evaluate cooperation opportunities in the area of education, with the objective of improving the quality of education in Timor-Leste, including curriculum development, digitalization and introduction of English for students in grades 5 and 6.
Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, affirmed that the formation of the joint team is based on the cooperation agreement that the two countries already have, with the objective of identifying areas that have the potential to develop through bilateral collaboration.
“Now we are forming a joint team that will work together to explore and evaluate cooperation opportunities between the Ministry of Education (ME) and Vietnam, especially in areas that have the potential to develop together,” the minister told reporters at the VIP Hall of the Ministry of Education, Vila Verde, Thursday (05/11).
Dulce explained that, in this discussion, the two sides also addressed cooperation opportunities in the area of digitalization and education curriculum development, including plans to introduce English to students in grades 5 and 6 of Basic Education.
According to the minister, until now students have started learning English in grade 7, while students in grades 5 and 6 have not received this subject.
“However, next year ME will try to introduce English in the Basic Education curriculum for grades 5 and 6, so that students can start learning the language earlier,” he said.
He added that the plan to introduce English for these two classes will be integrated into the education curriculum, and currently the Ministry of Education will be in the process of preparing to implement this plan in 2027.
The Minister also affirmed that the implementation of this plan will include training for teachers and assessment of human resource needs, to ensure support for the education curriculum reform process.
At the same time, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Vietnam to Timor-Leste, Pham Binh Dam, affirmed that this meeting is an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, especially to improve the quality of education in Timor-Leste.
“We are ready to work with other development partners, to support Timor-Leste according to the needs that Timor-Leste has in the area of education,” the ambassador said.
Pham Binh Dam stressed that Timor-Leste and Vietnam already have strong bilateral relations. Therefore, with Timor-Leste joining ASEAN, it is important for the two countries to continue strengthening and developing cooperation in the area of education in the future.
Reporting: Octaviana da Costa
Photo: Octaviana da Costa