Ethiopia Desires Further Cooperation with South Africa in Education Sector: Education Minister

Ethiopia is looking for further cooperation with South Africa, particularly, with the University of South Africa, to reinforce quality education in the country, Ethiopia’s Minister of Education, Professor Birhanu Nega, said.

University of South Africa (UNISA), a global academic institution as a pioneer to adopt open distance education, is celebrating its 150th year of founding anniversary in Addis Ababa.

UNISA, a regional learning center, outside the border of South Africa, is commemorating its anniversary in the presence of Dr. Naledi Pandor, South African Minister of the Department of International Relations Cooperation and Ethiopian Minister of Education, Professor Birhanu Nega, and other high level government officials from both countries.

Speaking at the occasion, Professor Birhanu said that Ethiopia is looking for further cooperation with South Africa particularly, with the University of South Africa to reinforce quality education which his country has given a special attention.

The future of Ethiopia needs quality education in this changing world to be competent, the minister underlined.

According to him, Ethiopia has been recently working hard to ensure quality education and produce skilled and productive workforces for the development of the country.

On her part by Dr. Naledi Pandor, said that as science, technology and research are instrumental for African development, the continent should invest on education especially on higher education.

For her, UNISA is working hard to produce innovative and advanced workforces.

She also pledged that South Africa and Ethiopia will further consolidate their cooperation in education more importantly in research, development and innovation.

The 150th anniversary of the University of South Africa is being commemorated with various academic and diplomatic events, it was indicated.

The University of South Africa opened its regional Learning Centre in Addis Ababa in 2007, mainly focusing on postgraduate studies.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency