The role of well-educated and skilled human capital in any country’s social and economic development is immense. For countries to reduce the level of poverty, improve the living standard of their citizens, and build a sustained economic development, investing in their human resources is not only necessary but also mandatory.
Thus, they invest massively, and exert utmost effort to educate and capacitate their citizens with the required knowledge and skills.
Ethiopia has also been applying more energy and huge capital to produce a more educated society and foster positive change within the community. As part of this effort, a number of schools, ranging from kindergarten to primary, secondary and higher institutions, were expanded across the country.
Equally important, with the aim to meet the demands in the labor market and increase the employment opportunity of the younger people, various expanded technical and vocational education and training institutes were opened.
Recently, the FDRE Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institute (TVETI) graduated some 3,651 in Bachelor and post graduate programs from different disciplines.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony held on Sunday, Institute Director General Biruk Kider (PhD) said that among the total number of graduates, some 2,786 are bachelor holders and some 865 students are post graduate ones. In terms of gender composition, graduates are composed of some 2,284 males and 502 female ones respectively.
He said: “The institute enrolled and educated some 253 students from neighboring countries at present. Of the 3,651 total graduates, some 73 students came from South Sudan and Somaliland.”
As to him, the institute has been working hard to produce proficient human power since its inception. Conducting problem solving research and investigation, developing technology, formulating reform, encouraging innovation and creativity are among the critical activities that have been directly linked with national development.
Labor and Skills Minister Muferihat Kamil on her part said: “As Ethiopia expects a lot from graduates, they have to develop skills and knowledge.”
Approached by the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), Yonas Amesalu a Bachelor holder from Technical Automation and Control Department and scored 3.98 cumulative GPA, said that joining TVETI is tantamount to investing on oneself. “I had a chance to join Debre Birhan University when I had accomplished 12th grade. However, I am interested in attending technical issues rather than engaging myself in theoretical aspects. That is why I am found at TVETI,” he added.
He advised that Ethiopia should expand TVETI with a view to producing quality and competent human power in the industry and to bring holistic advantages for the country.
BY TEWODROS KASSA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2023
