Menta Menged - Part 9 (Kana TV Drama)

Menta Menged - Part 9 (Kana TV Drama).

All private higher education institutions in Addis Ababa were assessed based on the new criteria and 485 criteria were reduced from the guideline as no institution was found that met the minimum criteria.

The Education and Training Authority said that it was forced to revise the guidelines for the third time by reducing the criteria set out in the guidelines since it did not find institutions that met even the minimum criteria set out in the guidelines.

However, it was said that only 3 out of 75 private higher education institutions in Addis Ababa met the minimum criteria.

If a decision is made based on this result, it is said that the results will be worse, so those who did not meet the criteria were given an opportunity to meet the criteria within a time limit. 

In addition to the 485 criteria that were reduced from the first guideline, it is said that there are many more criteria that were reduced to meet the minimum criteria.

According to the revised guidelines for the third round, only 3 educational institutions, 3 campuses and 17 programs (fields of study) were found to meet the minimum criteria.

It was reported that 25 institutions, 37 campuses and 146 academic fields were given one year to meet the minimum requirements.

We also heard that 62 institutions, 66 campuses and 256 academic fields were given a six-month deadline to meet the minimum requirements.

We heard this at a forum where the Education and Training Authority and the Ministry of Education announced the results of the re-registration and field observation of private higher education institutions in Addis Ababa city.

Representatives of private higher education institutions who attended the forum said that they supported the re-registration, explaining that some of the requirements are difficult given the current situation in the country.

The authority, for its part, had provided the institutions with sufficient information and a deadline before doing this; the requirements were considered too low.

Minister of Education Berhanu Nega (Prof.), who was present at the forum, said that the quality issue is not a negotiable issue and that the education sector will not continue as before.

He explained that for the sake of quality, "we do not have the desire to close private higher education institutions."

Instead, he advised that different educational institutions should merge and establish strong educational institutions.

Since the new guidelines were prepared, we have asked private educational institutions to submit their proposals and set a deadline. This is a very low and final requirement compared to the first guideline, said Ahmed Abtew (PhD).

He also suggested that educational institutions that completely deviate from the standards should be converted into commercial sectors.

Currently, there is no educational institution that the Education and Training Authority closes, but only if it is issued on its own initiative, Hiwot Assefa, the head of the Higher Education Licensing Department at the authority, told us.

The authority has mentioned that the steps to close the office are now being taken if they meet the requirements set for them to meet within 6 months and one year, depending on their level.

The official, who asked us which institutions met the minimum requirements, told us that the procedure does not allow them to list them by name.

It has been said that the field observation conducted in 75 institutions in Addis Ababa alone will be carried out in all parts of the country in the future.

Manazewal Getahun