AfDB invests $19.2m into Eritrea’s education sector

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group is putting in $19.2 million to improve equitable access, quality and relevance of technical, vocational education and training in Eritrea.

The project is jointly financed by the AfDB’s African Development Fund (ADF) and the Eritrean government who is contributing an amount of $2.06 million.

The key outcome of this project will be an increase in the supply of quality middle level technicians needed by the Eritrean economy and specifically mainstream entrepreneurship while institutionalizing studies to measure the external efficiency of training systems, the AfDB noted in a statement.

About 50,000 students are said to be targeted by the project as well as other beneficiaries including instructors, adults living near the technical institutions who will have access to training or retraining in selected modules in various trades.

“The project was in line with the Bank’s Higher Education, Science and Technology strategy and the State of Eritrea’s prioritization in these sectors. It will contribute to foster inclusive economic growth”, said AfDB Vice President Kamal El Kheshen.

To date, the Tunis-based bank says it has already financed two education projects in Eritrea for a total amount of $50.47 million.

By Ekow Quandzie

19 Comments
  1. A Iyasu says

    I am not sure if the GoE will want this article to be publicised. They don’t want their population to know that they are in receipt of grant, aid, or investment towards the Education sector. This might be read as contrary to their ‘self-reliance policy?’

    Happy New Year to all!

    Regards

  2. Le-bam says

    Brother A Iyasu, you sound like you are one of many ppl who misunderstood the policy of self reliance, intentionally or unintentionally. I never heard the GoE said not to receiving grant or aid as long as it’s based on mutually interest or partnership. There is nothing to hide in self-reliance policy, it is crystal clear policy and all African nations should follow.

    Self-reliance in deed not just lecture

    thanks

  3. Daniel S says

    For a country of only 5 million people I would say its the only African country with a self-reliance policy.

    The investment as the article title states does not mean its aid like most of our neighbours who are so notorious known for requesting hand me downs from the west.

    Have a happy new year

  4. A Iyasu says

    I think it is wrong for the GoE to assume that other African Nations don’t exercise self-reliance based on mutual interest or partnership.

    I also think such disposition, which manifests itself in so many areas of the GoE’s policies, is not helpful to advance the cause of Eritrea.

    The GoE will do a lot better if it would pause for a moment and learn the values of humility, dignity, self-respect, restraint, forgiveness, conflict resolution, care and love from no-one but the people of Eritrea.

    May the New Year bring Peace, Love, Prosperity and Dignity to the People of Eritrea.

    Regards

  5. .teS says

    U got lost the meaning self-reliant Iyas. Self reliant means learn how to fed up ur self. That is what we interpretate eritreans. So any one who want train as how to fed ourself we most well come people

  6. .teS says

    U got lost the meaning self-reliant Iyas. Self reliant means learn how to feed ur self. That is what we interpretate eritreans. So any one who want train as how to feed ourself, we r most well come nation.

  7. ashebire araddom says

    A Iyassu

    This is indeed self reliance and partnership the GoE stand for. Please learn those things you list for your own good. Scribbling them won’t make you an expert.
    Peace for Africa

  8. Asmara Eritrea says

    Donating what can only be described as huge amount of resources to a country run by a dictator is simply thrown moeny down a hole. Sadly money that Africa can ill aford!

  9. amanuel yemane says

    This a good for the nation’s improvement of it’s educational standard. The nation is now poised to take off into new levels of achivement nad we are going to need more trained work force more than before. Just look at the help wanted page on the Profile and it will be seen that our nining sector is booming and is only to grow faster in the futuer and is sayig nothing about our great agricultural sector which is registering even more great ahivement. So then , it is not hard to sea why additional educational facilities are need to support our new found prosperity.

  10. Suleyman says

    I think this is a good deed by the afdb. Eritrea in it’s pursuit for self reliance will be example to the world.

  11. Zerai says

    It is indeed a very considerate step taken by AFDB to help Eritrea to educate its youth in order to meet the economic challenges. In Eritrea every penny goes to the benefit of the Population, current or future, in accordance to its policy of Self – Reliance.

  12. Anonymous says

    I agree with you Mr A Iyasu
    Eritrea’s distorted definition of ” self reliance ” led the country to complete disaster , self imposed isolation. The youyh are flocking to the west in thousands , Thousands of our young men and women are held as slaves in the military without their will in the name of ” national service”. Let alone Eritrea to lecture other nations, it is in verge of becoming a failed state like Somalia , hatedby by all it’s neighbor . PIA brainwashed his disciples as if they are ” special people” superior to other Africans . I am sure PIA is not happy with article; it doesn’t fit-in in his distorted self reliance policy.

  13. s tse says

    for my friend who failed to leave his name
    This article for me shows that the GoE is willing to be an equal partner in the pursuit of development of our people.
    It has nothing to do with PIA or what he thinks about Africans. By the way, this is a true African initiave unlike the UN sanctions.

    Happy New Year

  14. A Iyasu says

    In a normal state of affairs, where governments value honesty, transparency and public accountability, you would have seen on the local news outlets, the Ministry of Education signing agreements with the representatives of the AfDB’s African Development Fund (ADF). With such above the board arrangements, the local population would have appreciated the GoE is after all working in partnership with African institutions and would have felt relieved that the GoE’s disdained of regional and international institutions is just a rhetoric—meant for local consumption.

    Even if the AfDB has publicised that it is investing $19.2m in Eitrea’s Education sector in addition to its $50m investment in the previous two projects, the local population will be told a different story.

    The GoE will boast to the local population it is making huge investment, nearly a billion Nakfa, on the Education sector. The individuals who might benefit from such investment will be told “they are getting such trainings courtesy of the GoE therefore the GoE owns their life….” If the trainees fail to return the favour, the GoE will act as if it has a free rein over them or their immediate family.

    The AfDB should have made sure that the location population knows of its investments – through out the process – from signing the agreements to implementation, otherwise its goodwill might end up being used as means of suppression.

    The GoE is obsessed with suppressing the location population and is yet to learn to live and let live.

    Peace and good will to all children of men!

    Regards

  15. A Iyasu says

    In a normal state of affairs, where governments value honesty, transparency and public accountability, you would have seen on the local news outlets, the Ministry of Education signing agreements with the representatives of the AfDB’s African Development Fund (ADF). With such above the board arrangements, the local population would have appreciated the GoE is after all working in partnership with African institutions and would have felt relieved that the GoE’s disdained of regional and international institutions is just a rhetoric—meant for local consumption.

    Even if the AfDB has publicised that it is investing $19.2m in Eritrea’s Education sector in addition to its $50m investment in the previous two projects, the local population will be told a different story.

    The GoE will boast to the local population it is making huge investment, nearly a billion Nakfa, on the Education sector. The individuals who might benefit from such investment will be told “they are getting such trainings courtesy of the GoE therefore the GoE owns their life….” If the trainees fail to return the favour, the GoE will act as if it has a free rein over them or their immediate family.

    The AfDB should have made sure that the location population knows of its investments – through out the process – from signing the agreements to implementation, otherwise its goodwill might end up being used as means of suppression.

    The GoE is obsessed with suppressing the location population and is yet to learn to live and let live.

    Peace and good will to all children of men!

    Regards

  16. s tse says

    In normal state of affairs, governments do not value honesty, transparency or public accountability, but rather rely on the niavity or lack of interest of the masses to sway public opinion. Do you believe that a normal American would tolerate git-mo, if they were told it was a concentration camp, or the french accepting subsidies and grants for farming, if they were told it is aid, and finally do you think the British and American public would have invaded Iraq, if it wasn’t for the WMD’s stories. I could go on ….

    It is sad but true that honesty, transparency and public accountability are good values that other government should have. It is also true that this argument is always brought up to try and condem weaker states who don’t follow the natural order and dare to be different. Look at the Arab spring.

    Lastly, I would like to take issue with the fact that you think that the Eritrean people are weak and don’t have the ability or presents of mind to rise up if they feel they are being oppressed. History shows different. The last thing anyone needs is another war in Africa.

    Live and let live

  17. Sem says

    A. Iyasu is only trying to provoke and distort the situation in Eritrea. Our government is the only one in Africa who cares about the people. We know the relation and respect we have each other. We are lucky to have such decent and honest leaders. Aid, grants ect will not make difference for us. We got our indipendence by ourselves and we will build our country by ourselves. We are the only one totally free country in Africa. Our police is our witness.

  18. Enter your name... says

    non

  19. Millan says

    Eritrea is progressing.

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