Gennet Zewdie Minister of Education Mrs. Gennet Zewdie holds a Diploma in Business Education from the Haile Sellasie I University, a B.Sc. degree from the Plymouth State College, and a M.Sc. degree in Business Education from the Suffolk University in Boston. She subsequently became Assistant Professor at the Addis Ababa University. She has participated and presented papers in many international and regional conferences and seminars, and she has published articles in the field of education. In November 1991, she was appointed as Vice-Minister of Education in charge of Higher Education. From 1993 to 1997 she has been Member of the Executive Board of UNESCO, and since 1999 Member of the Board of UNESCO (Capacity Building Institute for Africa). She was from 1993 to 1999 Chairperson of the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE). Since 1992 she has been Minister of Education.

Educational Reform for achieving Quality

In 1994 the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia adopted a new education and training policy. The policy envisages bringing up citizens endowed with civic responsibility and democratic values having developed the necessary productive, creative capacity in order to participate fruitfully in development.

Primary education expanded rapidly at an average annual rate of growth of 11.3% during 1998/99 — 2002/03. Affirmative action polices and strategies have been put in place to encourage girls' participation in education. Special programs have been devised for pastoralist children Curriculum reform was undertaken to improve the quality of Education and expand Technical Vocational education. Particular attention has been paid to civics and ethical education as well as I-IIV/AIDS. Furthermore, ICT is introduced to enhance quality.

Teachers are the key element for the provision of quality of Education. Under Teacher Education System Overhaul (TESO) new curriculum materials for TTI, TTC and university faculty of education have been developed and put into practice.

A new strategy for teachers' continuous professional development (CPD) has also been designed and is ready to put into practice where by new teachers will follow an induction course and experience teachers can update themselves with new outlooks, approaches and policy directions.

In regard to higher education, the number of universities has increased from 2 o 8 and the number of higher institutions run by the private sector has also increased tremendously. As the result the annual student intake has reached about 40,000 (forty thousand) of which 20% are enrolled in private institutions.

Education in Ethiopia has come a long way, but still there are challenges that we should surmount. .Therefore, my vision is that we have to work hard along with parent, teachers and the community in order to develop capacity through education in sustainable economic development and social transformation.