Government Monitors Pilot Project to Build New Classrooms in Tasitolu
The Government, through the Ministries of Education, Public Works, Planning and Strategic Investment, and Finance, conducted a visit on September 28th, 2026, to the 12 de Outubro Filial Basic School (EBF) in Tasitolu, Dili, to monitor the construction of nine new classrooms and four toilet facilities using Block Solutions modular technology.
The visit was led by the Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, who was accompanied by the Ministers of Public Works, Samuel Marçal; of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa; and the Vice-Minister of Finance, Regina de Jesus de Sousa.
This intervention is a pilot project designed to evaluate the application of this construction system in Timor-Leste as an alternative to address the shortage of classrooms and the time and cost challenges of conventional construction, particularly in areas where access and the transport of materials pose significant challenges.
Block Solutions technology uses a modular system of interlocking blocks made from recycled materials, reducing the need to use and transport conventional building materials and accelerating construction.
The project at EBF 12 de Outubro has a budget of US$27,000 and an estimated completion timeline of two months to build nine classrooms and four toilet facilities.
During the visit, the Minister of Education emphasised the need to increase the number of classrooms, given the condition of some existing infrastructure and the number of students.
“We are currently building nine classrooms at EBF 12 de Outubro, in Tasitolu. We all know that many classrooms are already damaged, and the number of students is very high,” said Dulce de Jesus Soares.
The Minister highlighted the projected timeline for completing the project and the possibility that this solution could enable a faster response to the school’s needs.
“With [Block Solutions’] technology, we can resolve the issue in just two months and have nine high-quality classrooms ready for students to use,” she added.
Dulce de Jesus Soares also explained that construction using conventional methods can take between six months and a year and incur additional costs for transporting sand, stone, and other materials, especially to locations where access is more difficult.
With this system, “we can accelerate construction and respond quickly to the school’s needs. It is an innovative solution,” the Minister emphasised.
The Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, stated that his Ministry will continue to provide technical support for the project to ensure compliance with safety and structural integrity requirements for the new infrastructure, including its suitability for local climatic conditions.
The Vice-Minister of Finance, Regina de Jesus de Sousa, highlighted the relationship between the US$27,000 investment and the planned infrastructure—nine classrooms and four toilet facilities—compared with the costs of conventional construction methods.
The experience at EBF 12 de Outubro will enable an evaluation of the use of this technology in other schools with similar needs, particularly in areas where access and the transport of conventional building materials pose greater challenges.
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