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Activities in Eritrea

Supporting Higher Education

PhotoHigher education institutions have now linked with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in a program that is being facilitated by JICA.

At no time in the history of Eritrea has it needed assistance in education than it does today. This is because of the rapid expansion of this sector in the past few years following the opening up of many tertiary institutions all over the country to cater for the rising demand for education and training of the youth.

Before 2003, the only institution of higher learning in Eritrea was the University of Asmara which was established in 1958 by Italian missionaries. But this could not absorb all the students from secondary schools and also satisfy the rising need for tertiary education in the country. In 2004 the country opened seven new institutes of higher learning in different areas. This almost instantly called for more assistance from cooperating partners to cope with the rapid expansion.

It was against this background that the Japanese government, through JICA, came in to support this expansion. To start with, the government of Eritrea through the National Board for Higher Education and JICA exchanged missions and launched a scholarship program for the master degree study in Japan in order to increase the number of Eritrean teachers in higher education. Seven higher education institutions selected one candidate each who got scholarship to study in five universities in Japan.

Last year, the Vice Chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Kenya headed a mission of 11 who visited Eritrea to start a linkage program with higher learning institutions and toured various institutions in Eritrea. This program is being facilitated by JICA with the understanding that more Eritreans could be sponsored for training at JKUAT in relevant fields such as agriculture and technology. An exchange for lecturers will also be facilitated so that institutions of learning from both countries can learn from each other. Those studying in Japan say they are excited because of the facilities in the country which are not available in Eritrea.

Under the program, the government of Japan is helping in the procurement of textbooks much needed for the Eritrean higher education institutions which have been in short supply due to the rapid expansion of education in the country.

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