HIROSHIMA, 12 May 2026 — On the third day of her official working visit to Hiroshima, H.E. Mrs. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Minister of Education of Timor-Leste, together with her delegation, visited Saijo Agricultural High School. Upon arrival, the Minister and the delegation were warmly welcomed by Principal Mr. Chikushi Yukihiro and the school’s teaching staff.
The visit formed part of the Minister’s program to observe Japan’s educational practices and to further strengthen cooperation and exchanges in the field of education between Timor-Leste and Japan. During the meeting session, discussions focused on the remarkable progress achieved by the school, as well as opportunities for future collaboration, including potential student exchange programs between the two countries.
As part of the visit, the Minister and her delegation observed first-year agricultural students conducting scientific research related to sugar content and other substances contained in food and beverage products, including yogurt and milk sold in supermarkets. The activity demonstrated the school’s strong emphasis on practical learning, scientific inquiry, and research-based education.
Minister Dulce de Jesus Soares expressed her deep appreciation and admiration for Saijo Agricultural High School, highlighting that the institution not only specializes in agricultural studies but also provides engineering and technical science education. She noted with great interest that students receive training in subjects such as vehicle mechanics, tractor maintenance, and machine engineering, enabling them to repair agricultural machinery when technical problems arise.
The Minister further emphasized that such an integrated educational model is highly valuable, particularly for countries such as Timor-Leste, where damage to agricultural machinery can directly affect agricultural productivity.
Her Excellency conveyed her hope that the valuable experiences and knowledge gained from the visit would contribute positively to the future development of vocational and agricultural education in Timor-Leste.
