“The government of Ethiopia stands ready to share our experiences with member nations building on our commitment to ensure access and quality of education to refugees, returnees, IDPs and host communities. The Djibouti Declaration of Dec. 2017 further underscores Ethiopia’s commitment to the integration of refugees in the Ethiopian society. Recognizing the critical contribution that equitable access to inclusive, quality education for refugees, returnees IDPs and host communities can make to this process. It is our responsibility to ensure that no child is left behind in that every boy and girl that is forced from their homes for one reason or another usually not of own their making find their way to a safe school in our countries where they can learn and thrive.”
Professor Berhanu Nega – Education Minister of Ethiopia
“Refugee education is an integral part of the education system so that refugees can be included in the education system in every country so that everyone can receive education without discrimination. Because they are not different people, even if they change places, they are citizens of our continent so that they can have access to education as citizens.”
Kebede Kassa (PhD) – IGAD Education Programs Coordinator
“Education is one of the most important pathway to the regional integration of the IGAD region and beyond. It is time our people stop moving to armed engagement and start moving in search of intellectual movement. In 2017, our ministers in charge of education adopted the Djibouti Declaration which laid out the key priority actions that would facilitate equitable, inclusive and quality education for displaced people. For the last four years, IGAD and our partners especially with UNHCR have been making concrete effort to translate this policy intention to tangible action and I am delighted to note that remarkable progresses have been made since then.”
Workneh Gebeyehu (PhD) – IGAD Executive Secretary
“We are all aware of the great job being done by IGAD with our partners and the member states in the area of education for refugees, retirees and IDPs and the host communities. As a country Uganda will maintain the spirit of pan-Africanism humanity and we shall always make sure that through our open door policy we receive those who find themselves in vulnerable situations like Refugees. I would like to thank our partners who have been supporting IGAD through the programs especially for supporting the recently concluded pilot on teacher training where Uganda received a batch of 100 trained teachers.”
Rebecca Otengo – Ugandan Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti
The Ethiopian Herald April 2/2022
