From the current Ethiopian population, it is estimated that 70 percent is below the age of 30 which is the untouched development input if effectively used. And making this big population independent, ethical, productive and development assets requires the involvement of every stakeholders.
The youth needs basic education, skills and ethical trainings to be a productive in assisting a nation to grow politically, socially, technologically and economically. If these are not provided as to the requirement, the reverse is threatening to the nation and beyond.
Though currently the Ethiopian government is trying its best to create job opportunities, to enhance access to education and to provide ethical and vocational trainings, it cannot fully address the existing need only by itself. Its three million job opportunity creation plan is one of the efforts demonstrating that it is too little compared to the need.
Therefore, all the responsible stakeholders of youth development must fully exert their efforts comprehensively to help the youth implement their physical and intellectual potentials in enhancing sustainable development of their nations. This requires educational transformation.
As well, empowering the youth in public offices is increasing specifically in Ethiopia and generally throughout the world. That is why UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Today, we celebrate the young people, youth-led organizations, Governments and others who are working to transform education and uplift young people everywhere;” on the 12 August International Youth Day celebrated with the theme ‘Transforming Education’, according to the report on UN website.
As to the report, there are currently 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10 and 24 in the world. This is the largest youth population ever; however, more than half of all children and adolescents aged 6-14 lack basic reading and math’s skills, despite the fact that the majority of them are attending school. This global learning crisis threatens to severely hamper progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
As a reason, this year’s theme highlights efforts to make education more inclusive and accessible for all youth, including efforts by youth themselves. This is rooted in Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
And governments need to examine how young people and youth-led and youth-focused organizations, as well as other stakeholders, are transforming education so that it becomes a powerful tool to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Inclusive and accessible education is crucial to achieving sustainable development and can play a role in the prevention of conflict. Indeed, education is a ‘development multiplier’ as it plays a pivotal role in accelerating progress across all sustainable development goals-be it poverty eradication, good health, gender equality, decent work and growth, reduced inequalities, action on climate or peaceful societies.
Education should lead to relevant and effective learning outcomes, with the content of school curricula being fit for purpose, not only for the 4th industrial revolution and the future of work, but also for the opportunities and challenges that rapidly changing social contexts bring.
The crucial role that quality education plays in youth development is well recognized. In addition, comprehensive youth development benefits society-at-large.
However, the fact that young people themselves are active champions of inclusive and accessible education is less known. Youth-led organizations, as well as individual youth, together with various stakeholders and Governments, are concretely transforming education so that it becomes a fundamental tool both for sustainable development and for the full inclusion of various social groups, according to the UN stand on its website.
For example, youth-led organizations are transforming education via lobbying and advocacy, partnerships with educational institutions, the development of complementary training programs, etc.
In the same way, Federal Job Opportunity Creation Commissioner, Dr. Ephrem Tekle has recently spoken the need to focus on education and training on the forum facilitated by the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs in collaboration with Save the Children under the title ‘What should be done to solve the problems of the youth?’
As used in Addis Zemen Daily Amharic News Letter, he said, “If the necessary education and skill trainings are provided to the youth, they do not only enable nations to be peaceful and stable but also possess independent and productive youth that assists in sustaining development.”
For that reason, equipping the youth and children with quality education does not only benefit the youth but also their respective communities.
By the same token, Dr. Kefiyalew Ayano, Ministry of Education representative on the workshop, said, “Education provides
knowledge and skills to cope up with the life requirements through bringing about permanent behavioral changes.”
Education transforming is also necessary to introduce the youth with new technological innovations those boost productivity.
In general, transforming education at all levels is mandatory to enable children and the youth meet their lifelong needs through employment.
The Ethiopian Herald August 16, 2019
BY DIRRIBA TEASHOME
