http://www.publicfinanceinternational.org/news/2015/03/eritrea-receives-funding-for-technical-education-and-training-drive/
Eritrea receives funding for technical education and training drive
By Judith Ugwumadu | 4 March 2015
Eritrea is to spend more than $21m of donor and government money on education in a bid to boost the skills of tradespeople and agro-scientists.
A large chunk of the fund is coming from the African Development Fund (ADF), an arm of the African Development Bank (AfDB). The bank will provide a loan of $10.7m and an ADF grant of $8.3m to develop the technical, vocational, education and training sector (TVET). Eritrea’s government will provide $2.1m towards the Support to Skills Development for Employability and Entrepreneurship (SDEEP) project.
To address the shortage of skilled labour the project will offer education and training to 1,400 highly skilled TVET graduates and 5,000 students in non-formal TVET programs by 2020.
Two new TVET schools will be built, one for technical and vocational skills and the other for agricultural studies. At the schools, young Eritreans will be taught auto mechanics, construction building, and electricity; plant science, animal science, and, agro mechanics.
The project will also build capacity for 18 teachers and 60 managers/staff to improve formal and non-formal TVET. Mentoring and training on gender policy will be given to 200 women in science and technology, the development bank added.
AfDB’s acting director for human development, Sunita Pitamber, said: ‘The project responds to the broader state-building agenda by ensuring long-term human capital development by building skills and strengthening institutions at district and national levels.’
Eritrea has one of the lowest human development index rankings at 177 out of 187 countries and territories, but receives the least development aid per capita, the bank said.
The AfDB has contributed $72m since 2010 in the education sector in Eritrea.
Received on Wed Mar 04 2015 - 09:53:58 EST