Laying the First Bricks of a Brighter Future

“Preschool Education is the foundation of all education to come,” says Rodolfo Aparicio, the General Deputy Inspector for the Ministry of Education. For many children in Bobonaro and Baucau, this foundation, which was once out of reach, is about to become a reality. 

Many children in Timor-Leste, particularly those living in rural communities, still lack access to quality early learning opportunities before entering primary school. Early childhood is one of the most important periods in a child's development. During these formative years, children develop cognitive, social, emotional and language skills that shape their future learning and well-being.

In Bobonaro Municipality, representatives from the Ministry of Education, Embassy of Korea, KOICA and UNICEF gathered with local communities for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction for 14 new public preschools across Bobonaro and Baucau under the project ‘For Every Child, Early Childhood Care and Education in Timor-Leste.’ This event is a major step toward expanding access to early childhood education in some of Timor-Leste's underserved communities.

For the Republic of Korea, one of the project's key partners, the new schools represent much more than physical infrastructure.

“Through KOICA, the Government of the Republic of Korea is working closely with the Ministry of Education of Timor-Leste and UNICEF to improve access to and the quality of early childhood education. Building these 14 preschools marks an important step toward providing children with safer, more comfortable environments to learn and grow. I hope this milestone in Soilesu will lead to better learning opportunities for children in Bobonaro and Baucau and contribute to the continued development of early childhood education across Timor-Leste,” said Ambassador Ha Yeon Chang.  

The groundbreaking ceremony is part of a broader four-year initiative that seeks to strengthen both access to and the quality of early childhood care and education in Timor-Leste. Alongside building new schools, the programme will support teacher development, strengthen learning environments, engage parents and caregivers, and improve education systems that support young children.

The need for such investment is significant. According to the 2025 Education Management Information System (EMIS), Timor-Leste’s national net enrollment rate for preschool education stands at just 29 per cent. To address this gap, the Government of Timor-Leste has set an ambitious target of increasing preschool enrollment to 60 per cent by 2028. 

“In most villages, because of the lack of preschools, early childhood education is mostly community-based. They are executed at home or amongst the community,” explained Domingos Belo Soares, National Director of Preschool Education.

For many families, these informal arrangements are the only available option. While community-led initiatives have helped introduce children to early learning, access to dedicated learning spaces, trained teachers and age-appropriate educational resources remains limited in many areas.

The new preschools being constructed aim to bring this community-based learning into formal public education spaces, creating safe, stimulating environments where young children can learn, play, and develop the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Selecting the locations required close collaboration between the Ministry of Education and local communities. The Ministry identified villages with at least 50 children as potential sites and met with community leaders to determine whether suitable land was available for construction.

This process reflects a shared commitment among government institutions, development partners, and communities themselves. While donor partners provide financial and technical support, communities contribute land and local engagement to help make the schools a reality.

Efforts to expand public early childhood education do not end with construction. Ensuring facility quality and a strong learning environment will be a key priority once work begins.

"We will have engineers to monitor the construction of the preschools and also regular visits by school inspectors. Every month, they will report to the Ministry of Education and the community leaders," said Apolinario Serpa Rosa, Director General for Preschools.

Preparations are also underway to ensure the schools are ready to welcome students as soon as construction is completed. The government has recruited 200 teachers from outside the municipalities to serve in the newly established preschools.
 

In just a few months, the empty plots of land will become classrooms filled with curiosity, laughter, and learning. For the children of Bobonaro and Baucau, the foundation of their future is no longer a plan on paper. It is already taking shape, one preschool at a time.