(September 30/2018) The Ministry of Education signed a performance contract with government universities on key performance indicators planned for 2018 in the higher education development sector in the presence of the university board leaders.

Minister of Education Professor Berhanu Nega, who attended the forum, said that universities are expected to support the activities they have taken based on the key performance indicators with quality and reliable data.

He stressed that the field trip program being implemented by universities in particular is a way to identify the strengths of their local area and the potential they have accumulated over time, thereby making them more desirable and competitive, and urged that the institutions should focus on making themselves more desirable among students.

He further stated that all universities will soon be assessed by the country’s education quality assurance system. The minister stated that universities are expected to provide accurate information about the status of teachers, students, graduates and other important information, and stressed that university presidents who fail to do so will be held accountable.

State Minister for Higher Education Development Ato Kora Tushune, for his part, stated that the agreement signed today in the presence of board leaders will ensure responsibility and accountability and ensure the quality and relevance of education, research and development activities.

The Minister of State also stated that the purpose of signing this performance agreement is to strengthen the system where high-performing institutions are further encouraged and low-performing institutions are held accountable. He added that the performance agreement includes a monitoring and evaluation system and urged universities to focus on their mission based on the key performance indicators they signed.