Three years after it opened, Instituto São João de Brito (ISJB) marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter with the inauguration of its very own campus. The new facilities will boost the teacher education institute’s capacity to train competent teachers for Timor-Leste.
One of the challenges the young country faces is a lack of well-qualified teachers. The Jesuits set up ISJB to help the country address this issue by providing the much needed leadership in education. Through this, they hope to form new generations of teachers with both professional competence and deep ethical grounding.
ISJB opened in 2015 in Casa Gonzaga, the Jesuit candidacy house, where it used the borrowed space for more than a year. From there it moved to temporary premises in Colégio de Santo Inácio de Loiola (CSIL), the secondary school that is the other part of the Jesuit Education Project in Kasait, for another year before finally getting its permanent home beside CSIL.
Timor-Leste’s Education Minister Fernando Hanjam officiated at the inauguration ceremony on April 30, with Superior for the Jesuit Region of Timor-Leste Fr Joaquim Sarmento SJ, after which he signed the inauguration plaque.
In his speech, the Education Minister offered the trainee teachers encouragement “to keep trying to become qualified teachers”.
“Develop not only your intelligence but also your desire to serve the future generation of the country,” he told them. “You are lucky to be afforded with quality education in this school, so make the most of it.”
“I am confident that this school will become a leading institute in teacher training and education and I am thinking now to send our teachers here in order to strengthen their abilities.”
A product of Jesuit education himself, Minister Hanjam also expressed his gratitude to the Society of Jesus. “My studies were supported financially by the Jesuits all throughout until I finally earned my doctorate degree,” he shared. “My hope is that when I am no longer in my government position now, I and my wife will be given a chance to pay back by helping this school someday … to educate our nation’s children.”
A few days after the inauguration, on May 3, Fr Sarmento blessed the new campus. Professor Marie Emmitt from Australia, who has been a long-time consultant for the Jesuit Education Project, and Brian Purvis, representing the many benefactors of ISJB, partook in the occasion.
Addressing the congregation gathered for the blessing, Professor Emmitt said that ISJB “is responding well to the mission and vision of the Jesuit Education Project since the time it has been initiated”, and added that she has no doubt that it will be “a great institution”.
Fr Sarmento was effusive with his thanks, telling all gathered, “I am very grateful to all who have contributed to the process of establishing this big education project. It is our hope that your effort will contribute greatly in uplifting the quality of education in this country, thinking of the greater good of the children who deserve to be educated with quality despite the difficulties.”
He especially thanked Fr Mark Raper SJ, his predecessor as Superior of the Jesuits in Timor-Leste. In a message sent to Jesuits and friends in Timor-Leste and beyond, he credited Fr Raper with being “the real motor of this project, and together with him, so many friends, partners, and collaborators”.
Fr Raper was not able to attend but sent his felicitations and also his thanks to everyone who has helped with the education project. “Let us give thanks for all the people who have contributed so much of themselves in working on this, in planning and implementation,” he said, adding “These are not benefactors so much as partners”.
“Finally, today ISJB is standing in Kasait-Ulmera to provide education for the proud children of Timor-Leste.”
More images from the inauguration and blessing ceremonies
