Government of Timor-Leste, KOICA and UNICEF Launch Initiative to Expand Early Childhood Education in Baucau and Bobonaro

Baucau, Timor-Leste | 16 January 2026 — Young children in Baucau and Bobonaro will have greater access to quality early learning, following the launch of a new Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) initiative by the Ministry of Education, with support from the Government of the Republic of Korea through KOICA, UNICEF, and municipal authorities.

Launched in Vila Feliz, Bocoli, the initiative aims to expand both public and community-based preschools, inclusive and high-quality early learning opportunities, to children and families in remote and underserved communities.

The project will support 34 preschools across two municipalities and is expected to benefit 3,050 children (1,525 girls and 1,525 boys) aged 3-5 years, helping lay a strong foundation for their future learning and development.

The initiative is firmly anchored in national priorities, including the National Education Strategic Plan 2011–2030 that commits Timor-Leste to achieving 80 per cent preschool access by 2030, along with the 9th Constitutional Government’s interim target of 60 per cent access by 2028.

"Expanding access to quality early childhood education is essential to reducing inequalities and ensuring that every child, regardless of where they are born, has the opportunity to thrive,” H.E. Dra. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Minister of Education. Through strengthened partnerships, improved learning environments and community engagement, the initiative represents a significant step toward ensuring that all children in Timor-Leste can start school ready to learn and succeed.

UNICEF congratulated the Ministry of Education for its leadership in advancing early childhood education, reaffirming its shared commitment to the Government of Timor-Leste and KOICA to accelerate progress toward national ECCE goals.

“Early childhood education is not only a social investment; it is a smart economic decision. Global evidence is clear: investments in the earliest years deliver the highest returns—improving learning outcomes, reducing repetition and dropout, and strengthening future workforce productivity,” said Ms. Patrizia DiGiovanni, UNICEF Representative to Timor-Leste.  

Globally, two out of every five children start primary school unprepared to learn. In Timor-Leste, nearly one in five children repeat Grade 1—an outcome that carries high costs for families, the education system and the country’s future development.

While the Government’s vision is to ensure a preschool within reasonable distance of all 442 sucos, school-mapping data indicate that 166 sucos still lack any preschool provision. Distance and difficult terrain continue to limit access for many children.

Recent reforms, including the approval of the Preschool System Decree Law, provide a strong foundation for sustainable expansion by clarifying roles, standards and responsibilities, particularly at the municipal level.

“Access alone will not deliver lasting impact. What matters is a strong enabling system—clear standards, capable teachers, engaged communities, and effective municipal leadership—to ensure quality early learning for every child,” said Ms. Youn Hwa Kang, Country Director, KOICA.

With KOICA’s support between 2024-2027, this initiative aims to translate national commitments into practical action through the construction of child-friendly preschool infrastructure with safe play spaces and WASH facilities; training and coaching for preschool teachers; engagement of parents, caregivers and Mother Support Groups; and strengthened national and municipal systems for planning, supervision and sustainable management.

The envisioned outcome is for children to become ready to learn, teaching environment to become more effective, education systems to be more efficient.

“As a young nation, Timor-Leste has everything to gain from acting early. The country needs to prepare for a future where human capital will be its most valuable asset,” said H.E. Dra. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Minister of Education.

For this initiative, UNICEF will work closely with the Ministry of Education, municipal authorities in Baucau and Bobonaro, the Ministries of Health and Social Solidarity and Inclusion, and local communities to implement the project.

For more information, please contact:
KOICA Media Contact: 
· Hyesung Yun, KOICA Project Manager - +670 78339710; Email Address – [email protected]  
· Francisco Sarmento Xavier Soares, KOICA Assistant Manager - +670 333-1525; Email Address – [email protected]

UNICEF Media contact:
· Ms. Purvi Malhotra, UNICEF Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships Specialist, Mobile number - +670 78448909; Email Address – [email protected]   
· Antonio Gomes, UNICEF Communications Officer, Mobile number - +670 77232441; Email address - [email protected]

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Tetun:

Governu Timor-Leste, KOICA no UNICEF Lansa Inisiativa Habelar Edukasaun Infánsia iha Baucau no Bobonaro

Baucau, Timor-Leste | 16 Janeiru 2026 — Labarik ki’ik sira iha Baucau no Bobonaro sei iha asesu boot liu ba aprendizajen sedu ho kualidade, hafoin lansamentu inisiativa foun Kuidadu no Edukasaun Infantil (ECCE) husi Ministériu Edukasaun, ho apoiu husi Governu Repúblika Korea liu husi KOICA, UNICEF, no autoridade munisípiu sira.

Lansa iha Vila Feliz, Bocoli, inisiativa ne’e ho objetivu atu habelar tantu pré-eskolár públika no komunitária, oportunidade aprendizajen sedu ne’ebé inkluzivu no ho kualidade aas, ba labarik no família sira iha komunidade sira ne’ebé dook no ladún hetan atendimentu.

Projetu ne’e sei apoia pre-eskolár 34 iha munisípiu rua no hein atu fó benefísiu ba labarik 3,050 (labarik-feto 1,525 no labarik-mane 1,525) ho idade tinan 3-5, hodi ajuda harii fundasaun forte ba sira-nia aprendizajen no dezenvolvimentu iha futuru.

Inisiativa ne’e hamriik metin iha prioridade nasionál sira, inklui Planu Estratéjiku Edukasaun Nasionál 2011–2030 ne’ebé kompromete Timor-Leste atu alkansa asesu ba pré-eskolár porsentu 80 to’o 2030, hamutuk ho alvu interinu Governu Konstitusionál da-IX nian ba asesu porsentu 60 to’o 2028.

"Habelar asesu ba edukasaun infánsia ho kualidade maka esensiál atu hamenus dezigualdade sira no garante katak labarik ida-idak, la haree ba fatin ne'ebé sira moris, iha oportunidade atu buras,” S.E. Dra. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Ministra Edukasaun. Liuhosi parseria sira ne'ebé hametin, ambiente aprendizajen ne'ebé di'ak liu no envolvimentu komunitáriu, reprezenta pasu signifikativu ida atu konsege labarik hotu-hotu Timor-Leste bele hahú eskola prontu atu aprende no hetan susesu.

UNICEF kongratula Ministériu Edukasaun ba nia lideransa iha avansu edukasaun infánsia nian, hodi reafirma nia kompromisu hamutuk ba Governu Timor-Leste no KOICA atu aselera progresu ba meta nasionál sira ECCE nian.

“Edukasaun infánsia la’ós de’it investimentu sosiál ida; ida-ne’e desizaun ekonómika ne’ebé matenek. Evidénsia globál klaru: investimentu sira iha tinan dahuluk sira fó retornu aas liu—hadi’a rezultadu aprendizajen, hamenus repetisaun no husik eskola, no hametin produtividade forsa traballu iha futuru,” dehan Sra. Patrizia DiGiovanni, Reprezentante UNICEF nian ba Timor-Leste.

Globalmente, labarik na'in-rua hosi na'in-lima hahú eskola primária la preparadu atu aprende. Iha Timor-Leste, kuaze labarik na’in ida hosi na’in lima repete Grau 1—rezultadu ida ne’ebé lori kustu aas ba família sira, sistema edukasaun no nasaun nia dezenvolvimentu iha futuru.

Enkuantu Governu nia vizaun mak atu asegura pré-eskolár ida iha distánsia razoavel hosi suco 442 hotu-hotu, dadus mapeamentu eskolár indika katak suco 166 sei laiha fornesimentu pré-eskolár ruma. Distánsia no terrenu difisil kontinua limita asesu ba labarik barak.

Reforma sira resente, inklui aprovasaun ba Dekretu Lei Sistema Pré-eskolár, fornese fundasaun forte ida ba espansaun sustentável liuhosi klarifika papél, padraun no responsabilidade sira, partikularmente iha nivel munisípiu.

“Asesu de’it sei la fó impaktu ne’ebé dura. Buat ne’ebé importante mak sistema abilitasaun ida ne’ebé forte—padraun ne’ebé klaru, profesór sira ne’ebé iha kapasidade, komunidade sira ne’ebé envolve, no lideransa munisípiu ne’ebé efetivu—hodi garante kualidade aprendizajen sedu ba labarik ida-idak,” dehan Sra. Youn Hwa Kang, Diretora Nasaun, KOICA.

Ho KOICA nia apoiu entre 2024-2027, inisiativa ida-ne'e hakarak tradús kompromisu nasionál sira ba asaun prátika liuhosi konstrusaun infraestrutura pré-eskolár ne'ebé amigavel ba labarik sira ho espasu halimar nian ne'ebé seguru no instalasaun sira WASH nian; formasaun no treinamentu ba profesór sira pré-eskolár nian; envolvimentu husi inan-aman sira, kuidadu-na'in sira no Grupu Apoiu ba Inan sira; no hametin sistema nasionál no munisípiu sira ba planeamentu, supervizaun no jestaun sustentável.

Rezultadu ne'ebé prevee maka labarik sira sai prontu atu aprende, ambiente hanorin nian sai efetivu liután, sistema edukasaun sira sai efisiente liután.

“Nu’udar nasaun joven, Timor-Leste iha buat hotu atu hetan bainhira atua sedu.Nasaun ne’e presiza prepara ba futuru ne’ebé kapitál umanu sei sai nia rikusoin ne’ebé folin boot liu,” dehan S.E. Dra. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Ministra Edukasaun.

Ba inisiativa ne’e, UNICEF sei servisu besik ho Ministériu Edukasaun, autoridade munisípiu sira iha Baucau no Bobonaro, Ministériu Saúde no Solidariedade Sosiál no Inkluzaun, no komunidade lokál sira hodi implementa projetu ne’e.

Ba informasaun liutan, favor kontaktu:  
Kontaktu Media KOICA:
· Hyesung Yun, KOICA Project Manager - +670 78339710; Email Address – [email protected]  
· Francisco Sarmento Xavier Soares, KOICA Assistant Manager - +670 333-1525; Email Address – [email protected]

Kontaktu Media UNICEF:
· Ms. Purvi Malhotra, UNICEF Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships Specialist, Mobile number - +670 78448909; Email Address – [email protected]   
· Antonio Gomes, UNICEF Communications Officer, Mobile number - +670 77232441; Email address - [email protected]