The evaluation, organized under the theme, “building education and technology development army for quality education, peace and democracy,” reviewed the last six month activities and results of the general education, higher education and technical and vocational education and training sub-sectors.

n his keynote, Minister of Education, His excellence Dr. Shiferaw Teklemariam acknowledged that the success of the education and training sector is the outcome of the collaborative effort of the public, government, stakeholders,as well as development partners.

At the three day meeting, national and international scholars and researchers made presentations on topics including, among others, the draft status of education and training road map, accelerating progress in education through deliverology and effectiveness of Civic and ethical education in Ethiopia.

Dr. Shiferaw noted that the Ethiopian government has been providing special support for emerging regions and persons with disability to improve enrollments, equity, relevance and quality of education at all levels of education.In spite of the extensive successes, challenges still remain ahead,said the Minister indicating some of the major challenges that include expanding pre-primary education and integrated functional adult education, delivering comprehensive information, provision of school facilities, adequate human resource, and gender parity in education.

Dr. Shiferaw also said that to increase the accessibility of technical and vocational education for local community service, developing the competitiveness of micro and small enterprise through the provision of industry extension service as well as producing trained and skilled professionals for the labor market is prominent in the sub-sector.

Concerning higher education, the Minister stressed that the higher education subsector need to strengthen the effort to produce a problem-solving, demand and research-driven, knowledge transfer oriented as well as community service providing workforce. High commitment of education and training leaders and implementers at all levels as well as effective ownership of community critical collaborative role in in delivering equitable quality education for all, according to Dr. Shiferaw.

In his welcoming speech,Ato Binalf Andualem, Deputy Governor of Amhara State,indicated that the State is working in full gear to bring about economic development by ensuring equity, relevance and quality education.Ato Binalf mentioned that recently more than 4.3 million children are attending primary education in Amhara.He also added that 40 percent of the students are attending secondary schools in the region.

Participant of the meeting were drawn from the Ministry of Education, Regional Education bureaus, Community Associations, public and private higher education institutions and development partners.The meeting also identified priorities for the second half of 2009 fiscal year.