BY SOLOMON DIBABA
Although teachers and persons of creative arts have played very important roles in the process of nation building in Ethiopia and in spite of the fact that they have always serviced as the backbones of the socio-economic and cultural development of this country, they have not been accorded the necessary honor and rewards they could have deserved.
A couple of days back, the Ministry of Education organized a national program that gave recognition and honor to the most outstanding teachers and the leadership of the Ethiopian Teachers Association at a ceremony held here in Addis Ababa at the presence of H.E President Sahelework Zewede. Such ceremony of recognition should have been held years back but better late than never.
Even during the imperial regime, the late emperor established a national institution called His Imperial Majesty’s Institute of awards which decorated and awarded outstanding Ethiopians in various actvties of national development on annual basis. The preceding regimes that ruled the country should have known better.
Ethiopian teachers, currently about 700,000 in number have been serving and have continued to serve as the main catalysts of producing the current and past intellectuals. There is no development sectors to which teachers have not contributed. Regrettably enough our teachers both in the public and private educational institutions have remained poor, underpaid and with no sustainable shelter and insurance facilities. In feudal Ethiopia families both in the rural and urban centers of the country frowned upon and even looked down as teachers as if they are unfit for married life. Many prominent teachers who have helped to produce thousands of scholars in social and natural sciences, agronomists and senior members of the armed forces have died under utter poverty and destitution.
The case of persons of creative arts is no better and probably the worst. Despite their contributions to the development of the spiritual and creative arts of this country, thousands of artists, play writers, painters, well known musicians, actors and men of literature have passed away suffering in poverty but leaving behind a legacy of cultural wealth for Ethiopia. The fact that Prime Minister Abiy has taken time to honor these professionals under his busy business schedule is appreciable and would help to raise more hopes for professionals in creative arts.
Ethiopia has enough capacity and resources to improve the livelihood of teachers in the country. On the other hand, with their back ground experience in the instructional media teacher have diverse range of experiences that can be tapped for current and future development of this country. The government has done commendable duties in upgrading the professional excellences of teachers through regular academic programs and special programs designed to enable teachers to become direct actors in promoting quality education in Ethiopia.
Strengthening the teaching-learning process at all levels of schools is the most critical factor in which teachers play a decisive role. Single handed efforts made by teachers across the country cannot bear the desired outcome unless all stakeholders including families and local government authorities.
Most Ethiopians are what they are today simply because they have been taught, mentored and advised by their teachers. Teachers also serve as role models for those who are engaged in other professionals. This is so because compressive contributions made by teachers is not limited to a class room situation in which they interact with their teachers.
Creative arts is a professional undertaking that requires high level of passion for producing acceptable cultural outputs that are meant for public education and entertainment. Ethiopia is a country with vast resources of creative arts that have been pouring in from individuals most of whom were naturally gifted. The country has no cultural academy of her own and most of the transfers of cultural skills were limited to rigorous and sometimes painstaking efforts by senior persons in the field of creative arts.
It is no secret that government support for those engaged in creative arts is not even at its minimum level. On the other hand the country lacks modern conservatories, galleries and centers for training gifted kids and youth in creative arts. The developments in some sub-sectors of creative arts is losing directions as modern and traditional products of creative are haphazardly being mixed with no sense of regard for public taste.
I think that there should be a comprehensive reward and support system both for teachers and persons of arts. This is important for luring future teachers and men of arts into the profession.
Depoliticizing the training of teachers is an important factor not only to ensure the quality of education in the country but also to implant a balanced apolitical world view among teachers. These professionals are well spread across the social stratum of the society up to the grassroots level. They can serve as the best promoters of national development, peace and mutual respect among the entire population.
It is again very important to detach the
profession of teaching from politically motivated ideologies and quests for political power. The country had lost thousands of highly qualified teachers who were made to participate in political squabbling at the cost their lives. They could have rendered better contributions had they stayed in their career as professional teachers. Teachers are not political cadres who agitate for the prominence of their respective political parties. However, this does not mean that they are inert to politics and political developments. Being in their own profession and developing their skills, they can also contribute constructive political ideas without being seasoned politicians.
In Ethiopia, persons of creative arts have not been provided with the respect and dignity they deserve. Some are isolated from the community while others have not gained support that is compatible with their popularity. I recall prominent persons of creative arts who have died early simply because they were profession of teaching from politically motivated ideologies and quests for political power. The country had lost thousands of highly qualified teachers who were made to participate in political squabbling at the cost their lives. They could have rendered better contributions had they stayed in their career as professional teachers. Teachers are not political cadres who agitate for the prominence of their respective political parties. However, this does not mean that they are inert to politics and political developments. Being in their own profession and developing their skills, they can also contribute constructive political ideas without being seasoned politicians.
In Ethiopia, persons of creative arts have not been provided with the respect and dignity they deserve. Some are isolated from the community while others have not gained support that is compatible with their popularity. I recall prominent persons of creative arts who have died early simply because they were not properly treated.
One could prepare a long list of VIP artists who have passed away unrecognized. Few associations are trying to accord respect and recognition to artists who have contributed to the cultural development of this country by organizing annual events. This is commendable and good beginning but is certainly not enough. These persons of creative arts were the custodians and promoters of the diverse cultures as they historically developed in Ethiopia and they really need due respect and recognition.
Professional associations of teachers as well as artists can organize nationwide foundations that cater to the needs of teachers and persons of creative arts for nourishing them at old age. Both teachers and professionals in the arts have much deeper experience and skills that they can transfer to the present and coming generation. Professional associations in both sectors need to prepare a catalogue of skill transferring mechanisms that are readily applicable.
It is regrettable to note that for a population of more than 110 million, the country has very few creative arts centers that can hardly meet the needs of the young generation. Youth centers established across the country could have been used for such purposes but most of them are being used for programs that have nothing to do with the youth.
I have restricted my views to the importance of honoring and recognizing teachers and persons of creative arts in Ethiopia. This however does not mean that they are the only ones that deserve to be recognized. We need to reward, honor and decorate our medical professionals, pilots, engineers of all types, researchers in the applied sciences, members of the armed forces with special contributions to the defense of their country.
Honoring teachers and persons of creative arts need to be conducted on regular basis on special events. It is obvious that there is more to be done in this area
The Ethiopian Herald 13 April 2021
