Minister Agio Pereira highlights the important role of education in nation-building in Timor-Leste in speech marking 25th anniversary of Popular Consultation « Government of Timor-Leste

Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, represented the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, as the keynote speaker at a lecture entitled “25 years of independence: the role of teachers and students in building the Timor-Leste state”. The event, organized by the Ministry of Education through INFORDEPE and the General Coordination of CAFE Schools Project, took place on 27 August 2024 at the Ian Martin Hall in the INFORDEPE grounds in Dili as part of the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the 1999 Popular Consultation.

The event, which brought together teachers, students and leaders from the education sector, aimed to promote reflection on the important role of education in consolidating the Timorese nation, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between teachers and students in developing conscious citizens for the future of Timor-Leste.

In his speech, Minister Agio Pereira stressed the importance of teachers and students in national development, calling teachers the “new heroes” of nation building. He also recalled that the Popular Consultation of 30 August 1999 was a historic milestone that marked an important turning point in the country’s history.

The Minister also highlighted the publication prepared by the Bureau of the Council of Ministers entitled “The Final Step to National Liberation”, which provides a detailed chronological account of the decisive events between 5 May and 4 September 1999 that culminated in the self-liberation of East Timor.

Keeping in mind the theme of the 25th anniversary celebrations – “It is the people who fought! It is the people who suffered! It is the people who won the battle! The people are the great heroes of independence!!!” – Agio Pereira said it is “a moment for the people to celebrate because it was the people who sacrificed themselves and gave everything to be able to take back our country and most importantly our identity and ability to rise as a nation.”

In a lecture attended by Timor-Leste’s Minister of Education, Soares, and teachers and students from various schools, Minister Agio Pereira also summarized the situation in the early days of East Timor’s independence. He emphasized the successes achieved in the process of national reconciliation and the construction of freedom and democracy, and recalled the important role of students in the national liberation struggle.

Minister Agio Pereira also recalled a particularly emotional moment on the road to the referendum, recalling the moment on 15 August 1999 when the flag of the National Council of Resistance of East Timor (CNRT) was raised for the first time in Dili, an occasion immortalized in poetry when Domingos de Sousa’s “A Minha Bandeira” was recited.

The main objective of the event is to promote a deep reflection on the important role of education in the building and consolidation of the Timorese nation, emphasizing the importance of teacher-student collaboration in developing conscious citizens committed to the country’s future. In this context, it brings together teachers, students and leaders in the education sector, aiming to inspire current and future generations to contribute to the continued development of the Timorese education system, a fundamental element in strengthening national sovereignty and identity.