[3] Corte-Real was then principal of primary schools in Bobonaro (1970 to 1971),[3] Bazartete (1971 to 1972),[3] Hato-Udo (1973 to 1974),[3] and Bidau, a suburb of Dili (1975),[3] the year of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor.
[3] From 1997 to 1999, she earned a master's degree in public administration at Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta.
[2][3] Under the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor following the 1999 East Timorese independence referendum, Corte-Real was elected an MP for Ainaro District for the FRETILIN party in the transitional constituent assembly, on 30 August 2001.
[2] In the government sworn in in July 2005, Corte-Real was appointed Vice Minister of Primary and Secondary Education,[5][6] in order to provide support to the Minister of Education at a time of conflict between church and state.
[7] In the next government formed in 2006, Corte-Real became the Minister of Education and Culture,[2][8] replacing Armindo Maia.