For the Government of Timor-Leste, which has worked to promote social integration, stability, and peaceful coexistence since gaining independence, fostering ethical values among future generations has become an urgent priority.

The government’s educational vision of encouraging coexistence rather than conflict has closely aligned with HWPL’s commitment to promoting a culture of peace. This shared vision has provided the foundation for a long-term partnership aimed at incorporating peace education into Timor-Leste’s formal education system.

From a Peace Walk in Dili to an Official Education Policy Framework

The partnership began with the 525 Peace Walk, held on the streets of the capital, Dili, in May 2023. The event brought together citizens and students to express their support for peace and peaceful coexistence, with the Minister of Education participating as a keynote speaker.

The participation of government representatives and the strong response from citizens and students demonstrated broad interest in promoting peace values within society. Witnessing the public unite around the values of peace, the Ministry of Education determined that the initiative should not remain a one-time event.

Instead, the Ministry began practical cooperation with HWPL with the aim of incorporating peace education into the country’s official education policy framework. The initiative thus moved beyond public awareness activities toward a longer-term institutional approach within the national education system.

Establishing the Institutional Foundation for Peace Education

Cooperation with HWPL soon translated into concrete administrative action by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture, which oversees higher education nationwide.

In September 2023, Minister José Honório da Costa Pereira, together with presidents of major universities, attended the 9th HWPL World Peace Summit. During the summit, Timor-Leste’s education leaders had the opportunity to learn about successful examples of peace education that had been implemented in different countries and educational settings around the world.

The experience reinforced the importance of providing future generations with the values and knowledge necessary to build peaceful societies. Recognizing that “future generations should inherit peace rather than the scars of conflict,” the Ministry moved quickly from vision to implementation after returning to Timor-Leste.

The Ministry subsequently issued official administrative directives encouraging universities across the country to introduce Peace Educator Training programs and information sessions.

These institutional measures provided universities with a framework for beginning peace education activities within their respective institutions. With the support of the Ministry and cooperation with HWPL, peace education programs were subsequently introduced at a number of higher education institutions across Timor-Leste.

The development marked an important step in moving peace education from an individual initiative toward an organized educational approach supported by government institutions.

Building a Systematic Network of Government Partnerships

As the educational vision of the Timor-Leste Government continued to align with HWPL’s peace education curriculum, cooperation expanded through a series of formal agreements designed to establish a sustainable institutional framework.

With the shared objective of developing and maintaining peace education within the country’s higher education system, HWPL and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on July 16, 2024.

The agreement formally institutionalized cooperation between the two sides in the field of higher education and provided a foundation for continued collaboration in promoting peace education among university students and educators.

Building on this momentum, HWPL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Education on August 28, 2025. The agreement expanded the scope of cooperation beyond higher education to include primary, secondary, and general public education.

The two agreements represent a gradual expansion of peace education throughout different levels of the national education system. While the initial cooperation focused on higher education, the subsequent partnership with the Ministry of Education created an opportunity to extend peace education to younger generations and broader segments of society.

Together, the gradual and proactive efforts of these two key ministries have established an institutional foundation for integrating peace education throughout Timor-Leste’s entire national education system.

The development also reflects the government’s continued efforts to strengthen social integration and stability by equipping future generations with ethical values, peaceful attitudes, and an understanding of coexistence.

Through 25 months of cooperation, what began with a peace-focused public event in Dili has developed into a broader institutional partnership involving government ministries, universities, educators, students, and other members of society. The progression demonstrates how a shared vision for peace can develop from public participation into formal policy cooperation and, ultimately, become part of a country’s national education framework.

KPL