From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Sat Apr 04 2009 - 17:27:35 EST
Substantial Investment in Building Competitive Skills
By Staff
Apr 4, 2009, 13:16
Students who have been taking their secondary school education in Sawa have
just finished taking their matriculation exam and are currently eagerly
awaiting their results. Best wishes for good results to all students!
In today's world nation-building process entails cultivating disciplined,
ethical and skilled human resources. Based on this outlook, the Eritrean
National Charter states that "our development strategy should prioritize the
determinant role of human resources and direct its efforts accordingly." The
development strategy policies drafted to implement the aforementioned
article of the Charter have not only given the education a priority but
substantial efforts and investment have also been made in this sector for
two basic reasons. First because every citizen has the right to information
about himself and his environment and second because education in today's
world is an imperative prerequisite for economic and human development.
The pace of progress of a given community's prosperity depends upon the type
of youth the community has. The health and general wellbeing of a community
is measured by its youth, for they are the driving force behind the
economic, political, cultural, social and security aspects of a given
society. And for the youth to be able to successfully execute their duties,
they need to be properly cultivated in all aspects of life. As President
Isaias Afwerki pointed out during the Eritrean Youth Festival, all young
people should have a three-dimensional outlook. And for young people to
develop such an outlook they need to acquire the necessary discipline,
skills and values. The objective of the substantial investment being made on
students is thus to enable them acquire the aforementioned capabilities and
thereby by facilitating the national development process.
Based on this objective, the Government of Eritrea has ever since
independence exerting intensive efforts and making significant investment in
the education sector so as to provide equal access to education for all
sections of the community, including those in remote parts who had
previously been denied such rights. As a result of these efforts, the number
of junior and secondary level schools which had been at 292 during the first
year of independence has now risen to more than 1000. Similarly, reports
indicate that the number of students' enrollment has increased from 168,000
in 1991 to 600,000 at present time. The number of teachers has also
increased from 4505 to 11,000 in the same time range.
The above figures being a reflection of the efforts made in the provision of
basic education, the changes and progress made in kindergarten services,
technical schools, colleges and universities also highlights the growth
registered in this sector through the years since independence under the
vision providing 'education for all'.
Moreover, realizing that building schools, training and recruiting teachers
and providing the necessary facilities alone cannot ensure the realization
of the ultimate national objective, the Eritrean government had been
exerting efforts to improve the quality of the educational curriculum and
secure equal participation of women and other disadvantaged members of the
society in education. To this end, extensive efforts are underway to review
and restructure the existing curriculum, giving focus to training students
in relevant skills that would enable them improve their lives and that of
their communities.
To turn this national vision and objective into reality, students, teachers
and parents should strive to compliment the government's efforts in this
sector, for education benefits not only the individual students but the
entire community and country as well. The only enduring wealth in today's
world that enables one to lead a rewarding life is education and skill
acquired through education. Hence the youth need to widen their perspective
and strive hard to in order to acquire the skill and knowledge that they
could use to build their lives. Realizing that the only lasting legacy they
can give to their children is knowledge, skills and discipline. Parents
should also endeavor to continuously direct their children's attention
towards these lofty values. Only through the coordination of the
government's and people's efforts can the ultimate national goal and desired
progress be achieved.
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