(ANS – Addis Abeba) – Between 28 May and 2 June, a delegation of people from Burundi involved in vocational and technical formation were guests at the “Salesianum” in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, as part of an international project co-financed by the European Commission.

The delegation was made up of 9 people, including the Salesian Rector of the “Buterere” community at Bujumbura, Fr Desiré Irunga, the VIS Volunteer Pascal Martin, various representatives of association and small businesses and local NGO, and the Director General of Vocational Training in the Ministry of Education.

The purpose of the visit was to familiarise themselves with the culture and especially the system of education and vocational training in Ethiopia, in order to learn about the good  practices involved there and then adapt them to their own circumstances.

After an introductory meeting which was necessary in  order to understand one another better, the group visited some Salesian schools involved in the project such as those in Makallé and Mekanissa, and also some art and craft small businesses run by Salesian past pupils.

In addition the Delegation was able to learn about the reform of the Ethiopian vocational educational system, now in operation for more than five years, which is concerned with the development of the educational technical and vocational sectors (TVET) and the strengthening of links with the world of work by developing flexible training  modules in line with market needs. This is only the first of a series of meetings which will be held in the next two years.

The project of which the visit formed a part aims at building together a bridge in view of innovation, through the provision of services based on the requirements of the TVET and networking between workers in Burundi and Ethiopia in the informal sector of the economy. It is a pilot scheme for cooperation between African countries, very different from each other but sharing the same willingness to commit themselves to reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development.

Published 08/06/2012