Dili, September 9, 2026 (Media Democracia) – The Student Academic Association of the Faculty of Education, Arts and Humanities (FEAH) is demanding the suspension of two lecturers who committed acts of abuse of power and illegal charging. Because of this, the academic association is threatening to hold a peaceful protest against the Rector and his administration.
According to the President of the Student Association of the Faculty of Education, Benjamin Gusmão Matos, the cases of illegal charging and abuse of power were reported by students three months ago.
“The first case happened in the Tetum Department. A lecturer allegedly made illegal charges against students. In 2017 the lecturer charged $17.50 to 62 students. In 2022 each student contributed $4, for 179 students, and in 2023 there was another charge of $10 to 5 students. The second case happened in the Physics Department. According to Benjamin, the department director herself committed abuse of power by falsifying student grades, even though she is not the lecturer for that subject.” said the President of the Student Association of the Faculty of Education, Benjamin Gusmão Matos, at the Liceu Campus (08/09/2026).
He also reported that the Rector’s dispatch has been sitting for two months in the Disciplinary Council’s office. Regarding these two problems, FEAH submitted a letter to the Rector several months ago. After that, the Rector issued dispatch No. 93/UNTL/R/VI/2026 to the Disciplinary Council to open an investigation process.
“But the Disciplinary Council, led by its President Alexandre Gentil Corte Real, and his team, have let the dispatch sit in their office and are ignoring the students’ problem.” he stated.
He said FEAH has confirmed with the Disciplinary Council many times, but for two months the dispatch still hasn’t been issued to suspend the two lecturers.
“They said they have made all the decisions and have already decided. But we have been waiting for the dispatch for two months, and the dispatch has never appeared while the two lecturers continue doing their jobs.” he explained.
Benjamin also raised concerns because the two lecturers allegedly took revenge on students during the proposal and thesis supervision process.
“He said, ‘I know very well you who held this press conference. From now on you all must be careful.’ We really regret this because it will obstruct the students’ proposal and thesis supervision process.” he said.
Because of this, the students consider the Rector incapable of leading the university, because he is sacrificing students in the learning process and in the proposal and thesis supervision process.
He explained that FEAH is giving a three-day ultimatum to the UNTL Rector and his administration. On this occasion, the students gave the Rector and his administration a three-day ultimatum to resolve the issue.
“We reaffirm once again, if this case is not resolved, then the FEAH Association will organize a peaceful protest.” Benjamin declared.
After the press conference, FEAH will submit another official letter to the Rector starting that in three days a peaceful protest will take place.
“We want to inform the Rector that in three days we will hold a peaceful protest against you and your administration, because you are ignoring the request from the Student Academic Association.” he concluded.
Reporting: Octaviana Da Costa
Photo: Octaviana Da Costa