#Ethiopia: Ministry of Education sets cutoff point for remedial programs after university entrance results fall short

The Ministry of Education has revealed the cutoff point for students seeking admission to remedial programs after not obtaining satisfactory results for university entrance. Solomon Abraha, Head of Higher Education Administration and Infrastructure at the ministry, announced that the threshold for students enrolling in remedial programs at both private and public institutions will be set at 30% or higher.

Specifically, for students who attended regular schooling in the natural sciences, the cut-off point for enrolling in remedial programs is set at 255, while for social science students, it is 218.

Solomon stated that the university placement for students attending remedial programs will be announced soon.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0vQStFu25vWQXZiKUJmydmtaKhSbdJ2VJHtnmcczTSt53vEFYvpzZfzW5snStGbs7l&id=100064657363280&mibextid=cr9u03

World Bank, Ethiopian government forge path to enhanced portfolio performance, addressing key challenges

The #World_Bank and the government of #Ethiopia recently completed a successful joint country portfolio performance review (CPPR) on 02 November, 2023. The CPPR aimed to assess the progress of World Bank-supported projects, identify challenges, and improve portfolio performance.

The two-day meeting involved over 170 participants, including World Bank officials, ministers, and staff of project implementing units. The review focused on 33 ongoing World Bank-financed projects out of a total of 43 with a combined value of approximately USD 15 billion. The CPPR highlighted positive portfolio performance, with a 60% cumulative disbursement ratio. However, key constraints were also identified and discussed to ensure smooth implementation.


https://www.facebook.com/MoFEthiopia/posts/pfbid02zqJraatwrdqmcuJFDQGNt141C3Cx5v8SgbPZQW4o1fCxxFi9kXesZzzL4QJQccCQl

Commentary: Cracks in the system: Unearthing part of the mysteries behind #Ethiopia’s national exam catastrophe

Concerns have arisen regarding the results of the Ethiopian High School Leaving Certificate exams in 2022 and 2023. Alarmingly, only 3.3% of students in 2022 and 3.2% in 2023 managed to attain the minimum requirement score necessary for higher education admission. These disappointing figures have significant implications for Ethiopia's educational system, as argued by Aytaged Sisay in his commentary.

According to Sisay, these challenges extend beyond academic difficulties and encompass socioeconomic inequalities, the influence of conflict and war, and economic instability. Many critics place the blame on Professor Berhanu Nega, the current Minister of Education, for this decline. However, the author contends that it is unfair to hold him solely accountable when the issues are multifaceted.

"Professor Berhanu has taken measures to address the shortcomings in the national exam supervision system, shedding light on one underlying concern within the education system," states the author who emphasizes the importance of conducting interdisciplinary research and considering non-academic factors that may have contributed to the poor exam results.

https://addisstandard.com/commentary-cracks-in-the-system-unearthing-part-of-the-mysteries-behind-ethiopias-national-exam-catastrophe/

#Ethiopia: Schools in #Amhara’s conflict hit East Gojjam Zone witness a gradual return of students

Students in the #East_Gojam_Zone of the Amhara region are slowly returning to school after a month-long delay. Five primary schools in #Dejan, one of the 18 districts in the zone, have started teaching and learning activities.

This positive development is attributed to the return of peace and stability in the district. In total, over 630,000 students were deprived of education due to ongoing conflict in the region. The absence of peace not only affects education but also adds pressure on students preparing for exams.

The Amhara region is also grappling with drought, further hindering student attendance. Let's hope for continued progress and a brighter future for these students.

https://addisstandard.com/news-schools-in-amharas-conflict-hit-east-gojjam-zone-witness-a-gradual-return-of-students/

#Ethiopia: Government subsidizes 23.4 billion birr for vehicles through targeted fuel subsidy

The government has announced that a total of 23.4 billion birr has been subsidized for vehicles since the implementation of the targeted fuel subsidy in July 2022 until September 2023. Salman Mohammed, the National Targeted Fuel Subsidy Project Coordinator at the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, informed the Ethiopian Press Agency that over 6.7 billion birr has been subsidized for vehicles in the first quarter of the current Ethiopian fiscal year.

Salman emphasized that public transport service vehicles throughout the country have registered through Ethio Telecom sales centers by providing necessary information to benefit from the targeted fuel subsidy. Up to September 2023, fuel transactions worth more than 81 billion birr have been conducted.

https://www.facebook.com/ethiopianpressagency/posts/pfbid02RqwtQcJNyqumPM5u8MfCdoexKu25rkuJU1pw18KzoyitA8KLqSfPHQTHmDAWUJJMl

#Rwanda announces visa-free travel for all Africans as continent opens up to free movement of people

Rwanda announced Thursday that it will allow Africans to travel visa-free to the country, becoming the latest nation on the continent to announce such a measure aimed at boosting free movement of people and trade to rival Europe’s Schengen zone.

President Paul Kagame made the announcement in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, where he pitched the potential of Africa as “a unified tourism destination” for a continent that still relies on 60% of its tourists from outside Africa, according to data from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

“Any African, can get on a plane to Rwanda whenever they wish and they will not pay a thing to enter our country” said Kagame during the 23rd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council.

“We should not lose sight of our own continental market," he said. "Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow at a fast pace in the decades to come."

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/rwanda-visa-free-travel-africa-schengen-b2440889.html

#Ethiopia- #Addis_Abeba city organizes half a million volunteers "peace army" to work with security forces

Lidya Girma, Addis Abeba City Peace and Security Administration Bureau Head said this week that more than 465, 726 "peace army" members are organized by the Bureau and were deployed “to all districts” of the capital city to work with security forces without receiving any financial support.

Lidya further said the Bureau has provided “broad based training to this force, especially in connection with prevention of crimes and violation of rules, in order to enable this force to become the true guardians of our city's peace.”

#Ethiopia: Ministry of Trade cracks down on substandard factories

The Ministry of Trade has recently announced its proactive involvement in suspending production operations in substandard factories and implementing necessary corrective measures. During the inspections, substandard products were identified in certain factories, including edible crude oil and reinforcing steel.

Over the past three months, the ministry has conducted comprehensive inspections and stringent regulatory procedures at 109 factories.

These evaluations were carried out through physical inspections as well as laboratory testing. In the last quarter, 41 representative samples were taken from 25 of the factories under inspection. Out of all the establishments examined, only three factories were discovered to meet the required quality standards.

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49 #Ethiopian nationals nabbed in #Nairobi while being smuggled to South Africa

A group of 49 Ethiopian nationals was recently apprehended in two estates in Nairobi as they attempted to be smuggled to #South_Africa. The first group of 31 individuals was discovered in a house in #Komarock while waiting for their smuggler to transport them. Security agencies express concern about the increasing number of Ethiopians being caught in various parts of the country while en route to other destinations. Most of those arrested lack proper immigration documents, causing some stations to hold them for extended periods.

Officials are calling for urgent action to address this issue, as many immigrants are defrauded and subjected to appalling living conditions as they await transportation. The latest group, consisting of individuals aged between 14 and 45, was apprehended in two separate locations. They are currently being held at Kayole police station.

These recent arrests are part of an ongoing trend involving Ethiopian migrants. Many of them use the #Moyale route to enter #Kenya and then attempt to travel to South Africa or the Middle East.

https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/nairobi/2023-11-05-49-ethiopians-arrested-in-nairobi-heading-to-s-africa/

#Update: Universities in restive #Amhara region delay new academic year amid ongoing conflict

Universities in #Ethiopia's Amhara region will not resume normal academic activities for the foreseeable future due to ongoing conflict in the area, according to a statement by the Amhara University Presidents' Forum on Friday.

Dr. Asmare Dejen, the forum's main secretary, told Voice of America's Amharic service that the region's 10 universities unanimously agreed not to call students back until security in the region improves.

Asmare explained the decision was based on several factors, including unsafe roads due to fluctuating violence, the inability of universities to guarantee students' safety on campuses if conflicts break out, and announcements by local food suppliers and other resource providers that they cannot transport goods and services due to the instability.

The forum indicated it is uncertain when universities may be able to resume normal operations due to the fluctuating conflict in the region. This is despite the announcement by government spokesperson Legesse Tulu on 04 November, that peace and normalcy has been restored in most parts of the region.

On 24 October, Addis Standard reported that university students have expressed increasing worries over the prolonged closures and lack of information from administrators on plans to continue studies.

https://addisstandard.com/news-students-raise-concern-over-prolonged-university-closure-in-amhara-region/

#Ethiopia - Federal gov’t pledges to redouble efforts to fully implement #Pretoria peace deal, criticizes disarmament delays

In a statement on the occasion of the agreement’s first anniversary, the Federal government of Ethiopia has expressed its resolve to maintain its responsibilities under the Pretoria peace pact, with the objective of solidifying peace in the region.

It outlined the numerous steps taken by the federal government including halting military operations against the TPLF, expediting humanitarian assistance, setting up a Rehabilitation Commission for demobilizing ex-TPLF combatants etc.

However, it criticized the delay in disarming ex-combatants. "Keeping combatants that could have served their people in different public roles remains a challenge".

https://addisstandard.com/news-federal-govt-pledges-to-redouble-efforts-to-fully-implement-pretoria-peace-deal-criticizes-disarmament-delays/

Fighting intensifies in #Ethiopia's #Amhara region amid blackout

Heavy fighting is reported to be continuing between Ethiopian troops and local militias across large parts of the Amhara region.

Residents say heavy weaponry is being used. There are also fears that civilians are trapped.

The authorities had claimed they'd contained the conflict, but fighters from the #Fano militia group say they've thwarted government attacks and seized towns.

Communications blackouts have been imposed, making it difficult to confirm the details of the violence.

The Ethiopian government announced a state of emergency in August, when the Fano militia refused to hand over its weapons.

Last week, Western countries including Britain and the US called for a ceasefire.

Source: BBC Africa

#Floods have devastated #Ethiopia's #Somali region, causing the death of 20 and displacement of more than 12,000 people.

Roads and bridges have been destroyed hampering the regional government’s emergency relief responses.