Science and Technology for Education
andHuman Resource Development in Eritrea
Semere Russom
Minister of Education, Eritrea

STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Outline•

Introduction•

Promotion of Science and Technology•

Status of ICT in education•Current challenges•

ICT Collaboration between Eritrea and Japan•Conclusion
STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Brief profile of Eritrea•

Constitutional republic, 1993.

•Strategic location with free zones for export orientedgoods.

•Abundant natural resources such as fisheries, minerals,
precious metals etc•

Tourism hotspot with 350 Islands and heritage sitesthat depict the birth of humanity.

•Self reliance culture with hardworking people proud of
their history and religious harmony.
STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Eritrea’s resources & transportation networktransportation Network

Resources map

STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Promotion of Science & Technology
The Eritrean Science and Technology Development Agency, wasestablished by decree on 1st July 2002 as follows:•••

The National Science & Technology Council (NSTC) as the supreme
government body responsible for Science & Technology Policy;
The Eritrean Science and Technology Development Agency (ESTDA),as an autonomous corporate body, responsible for promoting andcoordinating national science and technology efforts and building
capacity for research and development in science and technology;
The National Science and Technology Advisory Board (NSTAB) asan independent advisory body to ESTDA.

STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Eritrea’s macro-policy on scienceand technology (1994)
The national development objective of Eritrea is tocreate a modern, technologically advanced andinternationally competitive economy.
Therefore, ICT Education is currently being
expanded in the country with especial emphasis onthe provision of technology enhanced quality
education.

STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Eritrea’s emphasis on science andtechnology education•••Since our independence, the total number of students has tripled
to more than 700,000. By 2011, the enrollment at the 12th gradelevel and tertiary education will reach 36,400. This is a daunting
challenge facing the Government and people of Eritrea today.
As a follow-up of TICAD IV and in response to the call, made toGoJ by the GoE, for the provision of assistance to thedevelopment of its tertiary education, the dispatch of several
missions by JICA to Eritrea indicates positive signal of thecommitment of Japan to the development of Africa in general andEritrea in particular in 2009-2012.
Government of Eritrea is committed to the development and its
successful outcome as a pathway towards a shared future,especially in the changing roles of higher education in theglobalized world.
STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Status of ICT in education•••

Council of ICT in education is setup with the mandateof identifying approaches for harnessing ICT to increase
the reach and quality of education.
The initiative to provide training to teachers andadministrators in digital literacy is being implemented.
Digital educational resources are made available toseveral elementary, middle and high schools.

STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Current Challenges 1(Secondary education)
Secondary Education case study made by ICT council(11/2008) identified the following.
• Big class sizes working on 2 Shifts.
• Need for additional computers & IT Training.
• Lack of Qualified Teachers and Administration personnel.
• Lack of a library with sufficient resources.
STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Current challenges 2(Eritrea Institute of Technology )Eritrea Institute of Technology case study made by ICTcouncil (11/2008) identified the following.
• Insufficient resources such as computers, software,peripheral devices and digitalized library.
• Research environment including laboratory equipment.
• Additional foreign and local faculty members.
• Need for leadership and management skills.
STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Collaboration of Eritrea and Japan on
ICT in Education‐ JP Experts‐ Contents Dev.
‐ Funds & Grants

Provide‐TrainingProgram‐ ExchangeScholars‐ Training Program‐ e‐Learning
SystemResearchon ICT EdCurrent Challenges 3(Free zone)
Case study made by ICT council (11/2008) identified thefollowing.
• Delay of produce shipment due to insufficient transportation.
• Lack of sufficient processing facilities and• Lack of qualified sales and marketing personnel.

STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Current Challenges 4(Fishing Community )Fish community case study made by ICT council (11/2008)
identified the following.
• Not met requirements of European Committee• Need Management of a whole system• Maintenance of Quality and Supply• Lack of a library with sufficient resources.

STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Development Stages of ICT in Education

2009‐2012

STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Schedule of cooperation betweenEritrea and JapanSTS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Conclusion
May I cease this opportunity to ask esteemed
participants of the Science and Technology in Society(STS) forum (Kyoto-2009) to give continued support
to the ICT Education and Higher Education Programsof Eritrea (2009- 2012) as a pathway and a bridge
towards a shared future in the globalized world!
Thank you!

STS Forum, Kyoto, Japan 4 – 6 October, 2009

Brief profile of Eritrea





CONSTUTITIONAL REPUBLIC: Eritrea is the newest nation in Africa,
a constitutional republic, which gained independence 1993. It isbordered by Sudan in the north and west, Ethiopia in the south, Djiboutiin the south-east and the Red Sea in the east;
TRADE CORRIDOR: between Africa and the commercial centers of theRed Sea, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean (starting from the 3rdmillennium BC Phoronic and Hellenistic period). Easy access of land,sea and air link at present;
STRATEGIC LOCATION: straddles a coastline of 1200km in the Red Sea
which is the most heavily trafficked maritime coast ideal for transiting
maritime traffic and settling free zones for export oriented goods;
ABUNDANT NATURAL RESOURCES: Platinum, Nickel, Chromium,Asbestos, Uranium, Lead, Beryllium, Feldspars, Mica, Iron, Barite,Copper, Gold, Silver, Zinc, Cobalt, Graphite, Pyrite, Coal, Magnesite,Silica, Clay, Marble, Salt (rock salt, continental salt and marine salt),
potash, petroleum, natural gas, water, agricultural products, fisheriesetc;
TOURISM HOTSPOT: Endowed with 350 Islands with rich and pristine
biodiversity ideal for eco-tourism including heritage sites which dateback to the birth of humanity; andSELF RELIANCE CULTURE: presently populated by open, honest andhardworking people proud of their history, heritage, religious harmonyand self-effort.

Eritrea in numbers

Country coastline: 3300 km
Mainland coastline: 1350 km
Islands coastline:
1950 kmIslands and islets:
354
Country area: 124,000 km2
Territorial waters area: 55,000 km²
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): 120,000 km2
Watersheds linked with the coast: 44,000 km²
Source ECMIB GIS Unit 2007