Various study papers presented in Ministry of Education symposium

Various study papers focusing  on the development of national curriculum and the achievements registered in vocational training programs were presented in the Ministry of Education symposium that was opened yesterday. The symposium is aimed at evaluating  the activities carried out in various educational domains over the past 20 years.

Asmara, 26 February 2011 – Various study papers focusing  on the development of national curriculum and the achievements registered in vocational training programs were presented in the Ministry of Education symposium that was opened yesterday. The symposium is aimed at evaluating  the activities carried out in various educational domains over the past 20 years.
In a paper he presented,  Dr. Araia Habtai, curriculum advisor in the Ministry, outlined the development of the national curriculum beginning from the days of the armed struggle up to the present stage. He highlighted the task accomplished in the post-independence period  to develop the curriculum, the  strong and weak points of the newly introduced curriculums and the historical development of the Eritrean curriculum.
Dr. Araia indicated that the newly introduced student-centered approach pedagogy is bearing fruitful outcome, and that various training courses have been provided to teachers and supervisors.
Likewise, the Director General of technical and vocational training in the Ministry, Mr. Tesfai Sium, noted  the history of skilled manpower and the history of the three stages of vocational education, as well as the efforts made in upgrading vocational training programs, among others.
Mr. Tesfai pointed out that the setting up of vocational schools in Sawa and expansion of technical schools in various regions constitute among the major achievements in the sector. He further indicated that more than 27,000  youths have been graduated from vocational and technical schools in certificate and diploma over the past 20  years.  40% of the graduates are females, he added. Mr. Tesfai said that enhancing female participation in vocational education by 50%, increasing school’s enrollment capacity by 15-25% and constructing 3 training centers are among the major programs of the Ministry.