Binyam Tamene
15 April 2008
Addis Ababa — Despite a decade long support from the US which played a key role in the 'phenomenal growth" in Ethiopia's education sector, the country still fancies the support of US to continue to ensure quality of education, FDRE President Girma Woldegiorgis said on Monday.
The president made the statement addressing over 200 participants at the opening of a week-long regional workshop, which explores on the role of education in today's ever changing world, kicked off here at the Sheraton.
Hailing US as Ethiopia's most important development partner, Girma acknowledged its agency for International development's (USAID) endeavors to improve the quality of primary education through working closely with the Ministry of Education.
The president said over fourteen million children were currently attending primary schools up by 11 million from three million "when we started." President Girma affirmed this 'phenomenal growth' in the education sector was made possible with the support of development partners and with the people of the United States through USAID.
"Our steady economic growth has been achieved due to our sound socio-economic policies and strategies," the president said.
"This has resulted in the need to rapidly expand technical/vocational and higher education opportunities in Ethiopia," he added.
With an emphasis on primary school completion, USAID has been supporting the Ministry of Education in eleven regions since 1995.
"We still face many challenges in our education system, but partnerships like the one we have with America are combining resources to create a better environment for students," the president said.
Stressing the need to work together with different partners in tackling the issue and to improve lives, the president expressed wish that the USAID will continue to work alongside the Government of Ethiopia to improve education and realize the ambition of one child at a time, one teacher at a time.
The president mentioned the community-school partnership program, the Ambassador's Girls Scholarship Program, training of teachers and development and provision of millions of textbooks in partnership with the Ethiopian Ministry of Education among the key features of America's support in the sector President Bush's African Education Initiative and the President's Expanded International Education Initiative will be discussed in the workshop Sponsored by USAID's Africa Bureau Office of Sustainable Development Education Division, the workshop aims to provide an opportunity for educators and policy makers to share knowledge and to create a collective agenda for future education programs in Africa.
The workshop under the theme 'Education in a Changing World: From Vision to Action' was organized by USAID.
Minister of Education Sintayehu W. Michael, US Ambassador to the African Union (AU) Cindy L. Courville and US ambassador to Ethiopia Donald Yamamoto attended the opening of the workshop.
According to organizers, the dignitaries are scheduled to address participants in the course of the workshop.
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Gerrilijam, you are simply on the behalf of ertrian gov't/Higdef...it is realy shame to talk about ethiopia you are not morally fit...Ertrian journalists and veterans are the eye wittness.but unfortunately no one knows where these inocent people are now living....in which jail .. in ertria there is no free press,no freedom of religion,no constitution,no election....so please don't post nonsense comment on this respected web site ! please! you can't persuade the people of the world ..in this information age!!!no political gain you can achieve...Do your home work please what can you say about: "Some 1300 Eritrean soldiers crossed the borders to Ethiopia over the past 6 months in defiance to massive oppression and ill-military policies they face at home, Sudan Tribune rported on Tuesday citing the Administration of refugees and returnee Affairs"
The World's Worst Dictators No. 17 Meles Zenawi began his political career in 1974. Twenty-one years later he gained power in Ethiopia. To satisfy Western demands, Meles created puppet parties for all Ethiopian ethnic groups. In 1998, he forced his people to an unnecessary war with Eritrea, causing thousands of deaths. He agreed to arbitration but when the Commission ruled against him, Meles refused to abide by the decision and kept for Ethiopia land that belonged to Eritrea. Source: Parade