ICTs-assisted education, training indispensable to achieve MDGs: Minister

27/05/2006

Addis Ababa - Capacity Building Minister Tefera Waluwa said expanding ICTs-assisted education and training system is indispensable for countries like Ethiopia to alleviate poverty and become competitive in the international arena.

Tefera said Ethiopia has been utilizing ICTs for the purpose of integrated education system and bring rapid economic development.

The minister made the remark here yesterday while opening a three-day conference on utilizing ICTs for Development, Training and Education marked under the theme E-Learning Africa.

Tefera said Ethiopia has been establishing several institutions that could help achieve the MDGs in the education sector.

The Minister said primary school coverage in the country has grown to 89.41 per cent from the previous 19, while that of secondary education coverage has increased to about 40 per cent from the previous 6.

Tefera said the enrolment capacity of technical and vocational education and training schools has reached 13,700 from the previous 2,000, while the capacity of higher education institutions reached 36,000.

Tefera said upon the completion of the third Education Sector Development Programme in 2010, primary education coverage in the country would reach 112.6 per cent.

Secondary school coverage would increase by 39 per cent, where as the enrolment capacity of Technical and Vocational Education and Training schools would reach 312,000, according to the minister.

He also said the enrolment capacity of universities would reach 150,000.

Tefera said the government has been implementing ICTs-assisted policies and strategies by investing huge capital in order to improve the quality of education in the country.

He said efforts have already been made to benefit school communities in various parts of the country from ICTs through the school-net project.

He said the first phase of the school-net project has been realized inter-connecting over 500 secondary schools and 199 technical and vocational schools.

He said efforts are being underway based on the agreement reached with the government of India to install E-Medicine and E-Learning in higher education institutions with a view to alleviating shortage of skilled manpower on education and health.

Various ICT experts, heads of education and development works, software designers and suppliers, pertinent governmental and non-governmental organizations drawn from various countries are participating in the conference.

(ENA)