Previously, between 2001 and 2006, he held the equivalent position in governments led by UN administrator Sérgio Vieira de Mello and Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, respectively.

[2][3] On the establishment in November 2000 of UnTim's successor, the National University of East Timor (UNTL), Maia took office as its first Rector.

[5] Maia retained that post, with added responsibility for Sports, in the I Constitutional Government of East Timor under Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, which took office on 20 May 2002.

[6] When that government was restructured on 26 July 2005, Maia retained direct responsibility for education and culture, and José Manuel Fernandes [de] was appointed as Secretary of State for Youth and Sports.

[4] From July 2012, he was a PhD candidate at the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program in the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific in Canberra, Australia.

In August 2020, he announced that he had held discussions for the implementation of sports in schools, and said that a program would be included in the Ministry's proposal for the next State budget.

[18] According to Maia: "Over the past 20 years, there have been many achievements for education in Timor-Leste, including increased net enrolment in primary schools.

[20] In January 2023, Maia announced that the government would change the law to mandate the use of the Portuguese language during lessons in East Timorese schools.