College of Education and Behavioral Sciences hosted a National Conference themed “Quality of Education in Ethiopia: Practices, Challenges and Prospects” on June 23, 2018 at the University’s Resource Center.

The conference  covered Quality Enhancement and Assurance in Education, Research in Education, Teacher Education and Development; Adult Education and Community Development; Curriculum Development, Implementation and Evaluation; Educational Planning, Leadership and Management; Contemporary Issues in Psychology for Education Development; Special Needs and Inclusive Education; Student Motivation, Engagement and Academic Achievement; Early Childhood care, Development and Education; School Improvement Program and Continuous Professional Development; and Science and Mathematics Education in Ethiopia.

Dr. Dawit Negassa, Dean of the College, in his opening speech said, “The conference is very crucial for the improvement of Higher Education Quality assurance and quality audit.” He further added that such conference is a land mark in the quality assurance of higher education.

Dr. Dawit also added, “Good quality education is increasingly recognized as an important foundation for economic growth and is instrumental in the attainment of other development objectives.”

On the occasion, Prof. Nigussie Dechasa, Vice-president for Academic Affairs, stated that quality of education has become a controversial issue internationally. He said, “It [education quality] is an elusive concept that has as many definitions as there are categories of stakeholders. Many definitions of quality in education exist, testifying to the complexity and multifaceted nature of the concept.”

The conference was organized with the objectives to improve the management of the education system to increase institution performance and student achievement; to improve the quality of general education in order to motivate children to complete primary and secondary school and provide them with the knowledge, skills and values that would help them become productive and responsible citizens; to give all children access to pre-primary education for school preparedness and access to nearby institutions where they can complete full eight years of primary education and two years of general secondary education; to create a learning society by providing adult and non-formal education related to lifelong learning opportunities that will contribute to personal, societal and economic development; to produce a lower-and middle-level, competent, motivated, adaptable and innovative workforce; to produce competent graduates who possess appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes; to promote knowledge and technology transfer based on national development and community needs through research; and to ensure that education and research promote principles of freedom in exchange of views and opinions based on reason, democratic and multicultural values.

Delegates from higher institutions, researchers, policy makers, top government officials and staffs were in attendance and more than eight papers were presented. It was organized to create a platform for stakeholders’ discussion on improving the quality of education and teacher training. Over 50 participants including Haramaya University Academic staffs and instructors, East & West Hararghe Zone, Harari Regional State, Dire Dawa Administrative Educational Office Heads, Instructors from near surrounding College of Teacher Education, School Directors and Teachers participated.

The eight presentations were made by staff members from Bahir Dar, Debre Tabor, Debre Markos, Mekele, Addis Ababa, Dila, Hawassa, Dire Dawa universities and Dire Dawa City Administration, and East and West Haraghe Education Offices.

Participants of the conference stated that ‘hence the quality education plays a vital role in the national development endeavor of our country, in order  to insure the quality of education, it should be started from lower level classes, handling teachers to stay in teaching and improving teachers’ quality should given special attention by concerned body and stake holders.’