As the access to education is growing, the quest for quality education is equally becoming an issue that everyone raises. Currently, the number of youths graduating from universities is increasing year after year. To alleviate the challenges associated with quality education, equip students with better performance and develop entrepreneurial skills will have a better opportunity to compete in their future life.
Subsequent to this, the Ethiopian government has been taking various initiatives to realizing the quality of education and nurturing youths with the needed skills and knowledge. As part of this effort, exit exam, tight rules against cheating in exams, self-governing universities among others have been taken as the new mechanisms being undertaken by the Ministry of Education.
Regarding the autonomy of universities various experts are supporting its implementation and gave thumbs up. Accordingly, Ministry of Education announced that the country’s universities will become autonomous in upcoming two years. So far, some 10 first-generation universities will become autonomous in the next two years.
Administration and Basic Affairs Chief Executive Officer at the Ministry, Solomon Abraha said that the changes are being made based on the roadmap set to maintain the quality of education.
Making universities autonomous is one of the activities of the reform for which operational systems, legal frameworks, rules and guidelines are prepared, he added.
The CEO revealed that Addis Ababa University will be autonomous in a few months, and that would enable it to create the capacity to properly carry out its mission, ensure quality education as well as conduct research works.
The university was chosen as the first to become autonomous in view of its current capacity and educational programs.
In the next two years, 10 universities, including Addis Ababa University, which have been given a research mission and identified as the first generation would be autonomous, he reiterated.
Moreover, Solomon pointed out that being autonomous does not mean that the universities would never administer the institutions of higher learning. It means they would fulfill their missions with accountability and responsibility.
On his part, Addis Ababa University President, Prof. Tassew Woldehanna said that autonomy will allow the university to carry out its mission and to solve the country’s political, economic and social issues through undertaking problem solving research.
The Prof. stated that being autonomous will give them the opportunity to strengthen their capabilities and do better work. It is also important to improve the quality of education.
Furthermore, Prof. Tassew said, it creates an opportunity for the university to execute community services successfully in an effective and cost-effective manner.
Financial, human resource recruitment, asset management and labor management laws will be introduced when the university becomes independent.
Following this, the Council of Ministers has decided to grant Addis Ababa University autonomous status, making it the first university in Ethiopia to have this level of independence. The decision was made in the belief that academic freedom will be better ensured and that the university will be able to carry out teaching and research activities more effectively without political or administrative interference.
As an autonomous university, Addis Ababa University will be able to act independently in matters of academic and administrative policy. This will allow it to be a pioneer in the reform movement that has started in the education sector, the experts underscored.
The decision to grant Addis Ababa University autonomous status is a significant step forward for the Ethiopian education system. It is hoped that the university will be able to use its new freedom to achieve even greater levels of academic excellence.
On the other hand, other universities are also working to realize autonomy in the coming years. Among these, the Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU) revealed a plan to become the second autonomous higher learning institution in the country next only to Addis Ababa University.
ASTU President Lemmi Gutta (PhD) told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the University has been taking bold steps to materialize its accession to autonomy. Among other activities, the ASTU established a committee that is tasked to facilitate the transformation.
Lemmi further stated that efforts are also underway to improve the infrastructure, laboratory and ICT facilities, and create conducive teaching-learning environment for both teachers and students. Moreover, due attention has been given to provide skilled and competent students to the industry
“The University strives for education quality in Adama Town and the surrounding areas and we established standard schools both at elementary and secondary levels for sectors of the community who have been challenged by different factors. Currently, close to 900 students are enrolled at the primary school.”
ASTU has the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Center (STEM), which helps the university’s students and youth from nearby towns practice robotics, laboratory, and the like. Partnership has been formed with the Adama Town Administration and other partners in research, capacity building, scholarship, and software development.
Furthermore, the University is conducting problem-solving research to improve the livelihoods of the community not only in Adama but also areas in the Oromia State at large. For example, Bishoftu and Holtea are among the towns that benefited from ASTU’s research.
“We have conducted a large number of researchers in the past so many years that have brought a significant improvement in the livelihoods of the community in Oromia,” the University President remarked.
Out of the 50-million Birr annual budget, the ASTU would employ 30 million Birr to teaching-learning and research; the remaining would be allocated to community service, it was learned.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Prof. Berhanu Nega underlined the irreplaceable role of advancing educational infrastructure in shaping the future generations’ prospects.
At a side event held on the margins of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Prof. Berhanu, also the Chancellor of Addis Ababa University, said yesterday, Ethiopia, compared to many other African countries, has allocated 20% of its annual budget for education. However, since the allocated budget is not sufficient and cannot be covered solely by government’s capacity, this year, the entire society is being made to do its part. Through government’s initiative has started a national campaign dubbed “Education for Generation”, to improve the infrastructure of schools, he added.
Mentioning similar challenges in the Ethiopian education system, such as limited education infrastructure in schools, lavatories, laboratories, and reliable electric supply Prof. Berhanu said that it would be difficult to achieve the Global Sustainable Development Goals or resolve the existing challenges.
Thus, at the discussion it was said that it will not be feasible to accomplish the objectives of sustainable development or resolve the existing crisis unless it is possible to support education through investment, MoE reported.
BY TEWODROS KASSA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2023
