Training on the concepts of family literacy and learning, community learning centres (CLCs) and facilitation skills was held from 17-19 February/2022 in Bahir Dar.
The training was organized by the University of East Anglia's (UEA) UNESCO Chair in Adult Literacy and Learning for Social Transformation in which Bahir Dar University is a member University (along with six other universities).
The training is an outcome from the project entitled "Family Literacy, Indigenous Learning and Sustainable Development", which is part of a bigger project - Meeting the SDGs: creating innovative infrastructures and policy solutions to support sustainable development in Global South communities (GS-DEV) which is the title of University of East Anglia's Global Research Translation Award (ref. EP/T015411/1). The award is funded by United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), part of the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA).
The project has research and intervention components. One of the interventions is the provision of training on the listed topics.
Adult Education Experts from Regional Education Bureau, all Zones and City administrations of Amhara National Regional State, experts and facilitators all CLCs (both operational and planned), and Woreda/District level experts and facilitators have taken part in the training. There were 90 participants in the training.
Mr. Abiy Menkir, member of the UNESCO Chair Programme, introduced the training programme and the trainers to the participants. Next, Mr. MarewDerso, senior Adult Education Expert at the Regional Education Bureau forwarded a welcoming remark to the trainees. Then, Dr. Tesfaye Shiferaw, Research and Community Service Vice President at Bahir Dar University opened the training and addressed the trainees with key messages. Among others, Dr. Tesfaye emphasized the importance of adult literacy and learning for social development. He also reminded trainees to bring about change to their community’s lives using the inputs they get from thistraining. Admiring the establishment of the pioneer CLCs, Dr. Tesfaye indicated that more CLCs need to be established in each Zone and Districtin the region.
On February 17 (the first day), the training focused on facilitation skills whereby basic concepts related with literacy, adult education, non-formal education, etc. were discussed. It was provided in two separate sessions to allow more interaction and discussions. EndayehuTegegne, YerasworkMegerssa, Ermiyas Tsehay and AtaleTilahun were the trainers on this day.
On the second day, the training introduced the concept of family literacy and learning to the participants (from conceptual clarification, to learning and administrative issues within family and intergenerational learning programmes). As this concept is relatively new, this was more of a firsthand awareness raising for most of the trainees. Ermiyas Tsehay and Tizita Lemma were the trainers on this day.
On the third day, the conceptual and practical aspects of community learning centres (CLCs) were discussed. As there are a handful of CLCs already established in the region (whose district focal persons, coordinators and facilitators are in this training), the training was animated with practical discussions of running/management issues, benefits and challenges of these centres. MarewDerso (from the Regional Bureau) and YerasworkMegerssa were the trainers on this day. Overall, the training was very lively with very active participation of the trainees.
Upon the request of the Regional Education Bureau, time was allotted for discussion on administrative issues of adult education in the region with all participants. Accordingly, Mr. Mulaw Abebe, Deputy Head of the Regional Education Bureau led the discussion. In this session, candid discussions on the challenges and opportunities of the region’s adult education sector were raised. At the end, it was emphasized that everyone should work with synergy and agreed that all parties need to play their role effectively in order to bring about improvement in the standing of the adult education sector in the region (which was currently evaluated to be poor). Mr. Mulaw said that the Regional Education Bureau is committed and eager to bring about positive changes and improvement to the adulteducation sector; but, he also called upon all participants to build their personal and professional capacities and contribute their share to the sector instead of expecting everything from the government.
The closing session was facilitated by Mrs. TuruwarkZalalam, Coordinator of the UNESCO Chair Programme in BDU and Mr. Mulaw Abebe. A handful of training participants presented a recap of the three-day’s training sessions. Besides, this session emphasized on a discussion of: what the participants felt about the overall training, what their takeaways are from these training sessions. In her closing remark, Mrs. Turuwark remarked on the project’s background, discussed the missions of Bahir Dar University, and reminded what every parties’ roles are in the bid towards the improvement of the adult education sector in the region.
Finally, Mr. Mulaw and Mrs. Turuwark, with the facilitation of Mr. Ermiyas Tsehay, the master-of ceremony for the three days, handed down certificates to the training participants.
