BY LEULSEGED WORKU
“I am happy to go to school, to learn, see my friends and my teachers. I had really missed them all because we were out of school for a long time,” said Hermela Halefom, a third grader student in in Tigray State.
Hermela, for the past four years, was compelled to remain at home as a result of schools had been shut down due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic; and the conflicts outburst in the northern part of the country. However, due to the agreement reached between the government and TPLF, the schools that had been shut down for three years in the State were reopened and have resumed their teaching-learning activities.
Last Monday, April 1, 2023 State’s Education Bureau announced the resumption of schools and school children are returning to their respective schools. The students have expressed their happiness to the State’s media institution. Zena Desta, 3rd grader, is the other school child who expressed his happiness for the reopening of the schools. “Because of the conflict, we were forced to stay away from school. However, now; I am happy to see my friends and teachers as well,” he said joyfully.
Due to the conflict in the northern part of the country, several infrastructures were damaged and the teaching learning activities were interrupted. Luckily, thanks to the agreement, schools are reopened and started their activities. “The teaching process was fully disrupted because of the conflict. However, subsequent to the peace deal, the learning and teaching processes have started,” said one of the teachers in the school where Hermela is attending her schooling.”
As to him, because of the conflict, most of the school facilities were damaged. But they have continued providing services to their students with the available resources. “When we say that schools are reopened and we have resumed teaching-learning activities, it does not mean that all the necessary school materials and facilities are fulfilled and; favorable teaching and learning environments are created. Rather, it is with some challenges,” stressed the school’s teachers.
Announcing the resumption of schools in the State, Tigray State Education Bureau Head, Kiros Guesh (PhD), said that the conflict has cost a lot and affected the education sector badly. However, today students and teachers who had been out of schools for long have recommenced their activities in all areas where the interim administration is structured. State’s Interim Administration Cabinet Secretariat for Plan Transformation and Social Development, Prof. Kindeya Gebrehiwot on his part urged investors and the Diaspora community to play part in rehabilitating educational facilities. According to him, the more the educational sector is given attention, the better the future would be.
In related news, the Ministry of Education announced that preparations are well underway to resume the teaching learning activities of four universities in Tigray State. Ministry of Education Chief Executive Officer, Governance and Infrastructure Director General, Solomon Abrha (PhD) told the Ethiopian Press Agency that hand in hand restoring damaged facilities, the four universities are preparing to start the learning and teaching process. According to him, activities are underway to provide remedial programs to those students who did not attend classes due to the conflict. Solomon said, the Ministry of Education is working aggressively for the effective provision of services by the universities.
He explained that universities’ community and the society are working together to recommence the processes at full capacity. In addition to the support of the Ministry, concerned parties should do their best to restore damaged universities, he added. There is no single party that benefits out of conflict. The experience of most African countries is witnessing that due to civil war and internal conflicts, the continent is still suffering from poverty and economic limpness. Due to such conflicts most of the infrastructures that were built either with donors’ help or government finance are damaged. Schools and hospitals are destroyed. This has put the life and the future of civilians at stake. The peace deal made by the government and TPLF leaders has brought relief to the people of Ethiopia in general and students of Tigray in particular.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 6 MAY 2023
