Ethiopia launches education quality improvement program
Ministry of Education has launched today a General Education Quality Improvement Program for Equity (GEQIP-P) that will be implemented from 2018 to 2022.
Beefing up internal performance efficiency, equitable access, improved quality, strengthening human resources in general and quality of education in particular are among the priorities of the program.
The program will cost 450 million USD, of which 350 million is loan and grant from World Bank as well as 100 million USD from UK, Norway, Finland, USA, and UNICEF.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy PM Demeke Mekonen said this package is different from the previous package because it is result oriented and can improve the quality of education.
“We have to work relentlessly to improve the quality of education as we need competent human resources that sustain the Growth and Transformation Plan,” he stated, adding that “the financial support from development partners must be properly utilized.”
All education officers at different levels, teachers and parents have responsibilities in undertaking this endeavor to bring about change, he urged.
Education Minister Tilaye Gete said the emphasis made thus far on expansion of education will now be turned to quality.
“In the next five and more years, the investment will be on mainly quality rather than expansion both at lower level and higher institutions,” he affirmed
U.S. welcomes Ethiopia-Eritrea peace moves
The United States is encouraged by the progress that Ethiopia and Eritrea have made to resolve longstanding disputes and normalize relations, the US State Department said.
“Over the past 20 years, the frozen conflict between these states has hindered stability and economic growth in the vital Red Sea region,” said Statement by the Press Secretary
“A durable peace will yield greater prosperity and security not only for the citizens of Ethiopia and Eritrea, but also for their neighbors, the United States, and the world.
The United States commended Ethiopia’s statement on June 5, 2018 announcing that Ethiopia fully accepts the 2000 Algiers Agreement, issued in the context of positive political and economic reforms.
It also welcomed Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki’s June 20, 2018 commitment to send a delegation to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to advance the peace process.
“Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Isaias Afwerki have demonstrated courageous leadership by taking these steps toward peace,” the statement added.
Ethiopia unblocks more than 200 websites as reforms continue
Ethiopia says it has unblocked 246 websites and TV channels in the latest reform under its new prime minster, whose chief of staff says “freedom of expression is a foundational right.”
Chief of staff Fitsum Arega announced the news on Twitter as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed continues to open up the East African country after years of anti-government tensions.
The blocked websites included many run overseas in the United States and elsewhere.
Since Abiy took office in April, Ethiopia also has freed almost all jailed journalists and bloggers and dropped charges against activists critical of the government.
