Dili, 16 May 2025 – Centro Nacional Chega! I.P, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Instituto Nacional de Formação de Docentes e Profissionais da Educação (INFORDEPE), and the Ministry of Education (ME), conducted a 5-day “Teacher Training for 3rd Cycle Basic Education and Secondary Education on History Education for Peace in Timor-Leste” for 47 basic school and branch teachers from Aileu, Dili, and Atauro. During the training, the teachers shared their reflections as follows;
Samuel Ribeiro, a basic school teacher from the Fatunaba Branch in Dare, Vera-Cruz Administrative Post, Dili, was excited about the 21st-century training methodology he received. “As a teacher, I am thrilled with this approach. Back in past, we used a teacher-centered method where the teacher would lecture for the entire class. However, the 21st-century method is student-centered, meaning that teachers and students collaborate and engage together,” said Samuel in the INFORDEPE room in Balide.
The training covered various topics, including pre-history, colonization, and the Indonesian invasion until the independence process. Additionally, we focused on peace education, human rights, and effective teaching methodologies. Our activities included analyzing photographs and timelines of events between 1974-1999, watching videos, participating in group discussions, and visiting historical sites.
Candizo Simão Barreto, a teacher at the Basic Central School in Roluli, Remexio Administrative Post, Aileu Municipality, shared how 21st-century training methodologies have positively impacted his teaching. “I have learned valuable lessons about history, peace, and effective teaching methods that promote dialogue among students in each group. These strategies help us solve problems collaboratively, reconcile with each other, and foster an understanding of how to build peace and stability within our country,” he said.
He believed this training would serve as a future reference for continuing to inspire students’ spirituality and patriotism in the 21st century. Its focus is on peacebuilding, stability, raising awareness, and promoting dialogue to prevent conflict and violence, ultimately strengthening future stability in our country.
Additionally, Celestino Guterres, a teacher of 10 Dezembro Basic School, emphasized the importance of 21st-century training methodologies, including theoretical knowledge and practical experiences, such as visiting historical sites, particularly Chega! Museum to explore preserved documents. “I appreciate this training. Therefore, I urge Centro Chega! to continue these initiatives, as they are essential for enhancing young people’s understanding of the history of Timor-Leste.” He said.
Teachers have recommended that the Ministry of Education prioritize the history preserved at Centro Chega! to create new educational books, as the existing ones do not reflect the current situation. They noted that the history presented in the textbooks is too general. The narrative of Timor-Leste primarily focuses on the resistance period and does not delve deeper. We urge the Ministry of Education to collaborate with Centro Chega! to develop new textbooks.
The Centro Chega! alongside the partners have conducted training sessions in the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA) and Baucau Municipality. The upcoming training will be in Bobonaro, Covalima, RAEOA, Manatuto, Aileu, Liquica, and Ainaro. The training is funded by KOICA and UNESCO.
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