(October 25/2018) An international conference on teacher education and development was held in Addis Ababa under the theme “Educators shaping futures”.

The international conference, organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the World Bank and other partners, was attended by education experts and officials from many countries.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the conference, the Minister of Education, Ato Kora Tushune, emphasized that since teachers play a key role in achieving quality education, it is the role of all stakeholders to empower and support teachers, and urged them to do their part.

He said that the government is focusing on the education sector and that many reform efforts are underway, one of which is building the capacity of teachers and school leaders, and that teachers are not only imparting knowledge but also helping to shape the generation as a symbol of perseverance and hope.

The Minister of State added that the ongoing reform efforts also support efforts to build a knowledge-based economy by aligning the quality and relevance of education with national development programs.

He also thanked those who made efforts to make the event a success, as international conferences open the door to learning and exchanging experiences and practices.

World Bank Division Director Meriam Salim, for her part, stated that the world needs an additional 44 million teachers to achieve “Universal Education” by 2030, and for this, she emphasized that there is a need to increase the options for new teachers to join the sector.

He said that the future generation is determined by the preparation, competence and development of our current teachers, so it is expected that all stakeholders will empower and support teachers.

It was also noted that 271 participants from different countries of the world and more than 150 local stakeholders participated in the conference.