As the school director of Kayrala Public School in Manatuto district, Agustinho da Costa has watched his team of dedicated teachers struggle to teach computers without equipment, to meet a national curriculum mandate. The widening gap between what his staff and students needed and the resources he had access to became a pressing issue. 

"We only taught students theoretically," Agustinho recalls. "Our teachers aren't experts in computer science or technology, but they put effort into teaching based on their own knowledge and experience, according to the curriculum, without professional training."

The Information and Communication Lab (ICT lab), better known as the multimedia class, is an integral part of Timor-Leste's mandated national curriculum. Yet, limited resources at the school have made it difficult to uphold this obligation.

Back in 2012, as Agustinho recalls, the school had received computers during Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão’s term, followed by additional government support in 2016. These computers became a pivotal point of change for the school. However, years of continuous use and evolving learning requirements soon outpaced the computers’ capabilities.

Another major obstacle was frequent electricity blackouts. Kayrala Public School depended entirely on prepaid power credits. Each time the credits ran out, school infrastructure would become non-functional—classroom activities were often delayed, and administrative tasks would come to a halt—until power was restored. 

"Blackouts were one of our biggest issues," Agustinho explains. "They caused classroom lessons to be delayed, especially computer classes. Our administration work requires electricity to power laptops when batteries run out. We depended so much on electricity credits."

Yet, the teachers worked hard to try to teach media and technology to the students, despite not having a proper classroom without backup power or reliable internet. With growing curiosity from students, the teaching staff taught students concepts theoretically, where lessons had to remain general and vague due to the limited functional computers. 

Through UNDP’s Pacific Green Transformation project, with support from the Government of Japan, 15 secondary schools received fully equipped ICT labs with solar panels to build a stronger tomorrow. With UNDP’s support, Kayrala Public School is now sharpening its students' basic technical skills for their promising futures. 

The ICT lab—an indispensable facility for young students—has provisions for back-up power generators, so learning does not have to be compromised by blackouts; advanced computers with updated software; air conditioning; robust internet connection to enable student curiosity, as well as required training for teachers to aid them with seamless knowledge sharing. 

"UNDP sees the future and how it can be sustainable," Agustinho emphasizes. "They provided complete kits for the computer lab, but most importantly, they trained our teachers in computer skills. This guarantees long-term use of the ICT lab and knowledge transfer. Human resources are most important."

The teachers have also received training to familiarise them with widely used online tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Office applications, etc. This has enhanced their teaching methods and transformed the learning process from abstract theory to hands-on practice.

"Our teachers are learning in this process too," Agustinho notes. "Now they teach from experience with the actual tools, not just memory of how things should work."

Since most students in Manatuto come from households without electricity or a reliable light source, having access to the ICT lab represents the endless possibilities of a future, whilst focusing on sustainability. The transformation extends beyond individual students. As Kayrala Public School develops genuine technological capacity, it strengthens the entire community's educational foundation. 

"We are confident that the future is full of opportunities," Agustinho says. "This will strengthen the school's resources."

This story of transformation displays the power of reliable infrastructure in building a way forward to equip them with the right tools and knowledge to lead their own development. Agustinho and his teachers are now empowered to nurture the next generation of Timor-Leste toward a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow.