Signing of MOA with Ministry of Higher Education and MOUs with Higher Education Institutions

(KPL) On July 16, the international peace organization HWPL signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Ministry of Higher Education of Timor-Leste and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with six higher education institutions. The signing ceremony took place in the conference room of the Ministry of Higher Education.

The event was attended by approximately 50 participants, including the Minister of Higher Education, the Director General of the Ministry of Higher Education, and rectors from various higher education institutions. Through these agreements, HWPL aims to implement practical peace education in Timor-Leste, cultivate peace-minded citizens, and enhance the quality of education to achieve sustainable peace.

In early June, HWPL, in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education of Timor-Leste, held a peace education seminar at the same venue. The seminar highlighted the importance of peace education and introduced the Ministry’s organizations to HWPL’s peace education initiatives. A briefing session for the MOUs was also conducted during the seminar. 

João António Soares, a lecturer at the Universidade da Paz (UNPAZ), presented the peace education curriculum, which is based on a 12-lesson textbook. He provided detailed explanations on how the peace education would be implemented.

The peace education promoted by HWPL is part of three key projects aimed at submitting Article 10, Clause 38 of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) to international law at the United Nations. This initiative seeks to awaken the spirit of peace among citizens and encourage them to act as messengers of peace.

The event began with introductions from the Ministry of Higher Education and HWPL, followed by the signing ceremonies. Between the ceremonies, a performance by the Lighthouse International School team added to the atmosphere of peace. 

The signing of the MOA and MOUs lays the groundwork for implementing practical peace education in Timor-Leste. The HWPL Peace Education Department plans to develop and implement customized peace education programmes tailored to each educational institution in the country, which is expected to gradually improve the quality of education.

HWPL intends to closely collaborate with the Ministry of Higher Education and its affiliated institutions to promote sustainable peace education throughout Timor-Leste. Through this initiative, they aim to foster a culture of peace within Timorese society and move closer to achieving sustainable peace.

KPL