The Ethiopian Education Minister, the Italian Ambassador to Ethiopia and the Director of UNESCO’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) met recently for the signing ceremony for the project on “Retaining Girls in Lower Secondary Schools and Increasing their Learning Outcomes in Ethiopia”.
500,000 dollars allocated
The project is a result of a joint effort between Italy, Ethiopia and UNESCO IICBA. In spite of the difficult financial situation, the government of Italy donated 500,000 US dollars to fund the project. It will be implemented by the Education Ministry and UNESCO IICBA and will target the issue of retention and dropout of girls in lower secondary education in two regions in Ethiopia, namely Afar and Benishangul Gumuz.
IICBA, education and training
The IICBA has over a decade’s experience in assisting African countries in teacher’s training, distance training and educational planning. It will be the leading partner in the effort, as stated by the director of IICBA, Arnaldo Nhavoto, “to ensure that girls and young women of the emerging regions of Ethiopia have the social and economic conditions that enable them to continue the path towards a higher education and a better life”.
