Yosief Abraham Z

Vol 23. No. 4
Wednesday, 16 March, 2016
President Isaias
visits Qatar
The workshop will bring together
participants from Tanzania, South
Sudan, Rwanda, Morocco, Ghana,
Sudan, Kenya, Cape Verde,
Zimbabwe, Nigeria and other
countries.
Director of Medicine and Food
Control Division in the Ministry
of Health, Mr. Eyassu Bahta,
told ERINA that the main aim
of this advanced course is to
integrate Pharmaco-vigilance in
A side event was held in Geneva at the Palais des Nations on the
occasion of the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council on the role of
Eritrean Women in development, gender equality and empowerment.
President Isaias and the Emir of Qatar,
Sheik Tamim Bin Hamid Al-Thani,
subsequently met at the State Palace
and discussed bilateral, regional and
international issues of mutual interest.
The background introduction and presentations on the issue outlined
the challenges of nation building and the efforts made to maintain
the achievements of the liberation struggle in women equality and
empowerment. The event also highlighted the successful development
partnership between the Government of Eritrea, the UN Country Team
to Eritrea as well as the National Union of Eritrean Women (NUEW).
The training will involve experts
from WHO offices in Switzerland,
Sweden, Morocco, Ghana, Egypt,
and the Sudan. ‘Serenus”, a
private company with relevant
competencies in the field has also
been commissioned for the task.
The training was offered
through cooperation of the
NUEYS Branch of the Anseba
Region with other stakeholders.
The
training
focused
on
These
periodic
training
programmes are expected to
equip the youth with employable
skills.
The participants gave their reflections and comments and the event
concluded with the following recommendations:-
11 March 2016
Permanent Mission of Eritrea to the United Nations in Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland
Eritrea has an excellent track
record in the monitoring and
supervision of side effects of
prescribed medicaments and
regular reporting of its findings to
the WHO.
mechanics,
distribution
of
electrical cables, distribution of
water pipelines, metal and wood
works, pottery, still camera,
Graphics, Bee farming, Basic
Computer Training as well as
hair dressing and music lessons.
A Photographic exhibition and a video presentation also depicted
and chronicled the Eritrean woman and her role in Eritrean society,
including the armed struggle.
•
Consolidate further the effort and achievement in women’s
emancipation and empowerment
•
Empower the NUEW to expand and consolidate the realization
of its mission as an organization representing women
•
Expand partnerships, in particular the ongoing partnership
with the UN Country Team in Eritrea
•
Create a platform to share Eritrea’s experiences and
achievements with neighboring countries and other African countries
•
Mobilize more resources in support of Eritrea
•
Conduct more side events on various side issues to reflect the
Eritrean reality and its development achievements and challenges.
public health programs, as well as
maximize detection and reporting
of adverse drug reactions and
quality management systems in the
specific field.
Anseba: Training in Various
Vocational Skills
341 youths from the Anseba
Region graduated on March
10 after receiving a 7-month
vocational training.
Press Statement
President Isaias Afwerki departed to Qatar
for a working visit in the afternoon hours of
yesterday, 15th March 2016.
East African Advanced Course on
Pharmaco-vigilance
The Ministry of Health is
planning to organize, in conjunction
with its development partners, the
“2016 African Advanced course
on Pharmco-vigilance and Risk
management” in April next month
at the Asmara Palace Hotel.
Pages 8, Price 2.00 NFA
Gash Barka Assembly Holds its 15th
Regular Meeting
The Gash Barka Assembly held
its 15th regular meeting on March
12th in the city of Barentu. The
meeting was held under the theme
‘Forestry and Wildlife Conservation
is Everyone’s Responsibility.’
In a report presented during the
event, Chairman of the Assembly,
Mr. Osman Mohamed Ali,
made detailed briefings on the
achievements registered and the
challenges encountered in regard
to regrouping of villages. These
include deforestation, potable
water supply, traditional mining
and its consequences, collection of
taxes from livestock and farmlands,
as well as popular campaigns and
preservation of culture and values
among others.
Sectoral Department Heads in the
Region briefed participants on the
development programs undertaken
last year.
Furthermore,
members
of
the Assembly held discussions
on various issues and made
recommendations on enhancing
efforts to conserve forestry and
wildlife, and to reduce mother
and child mortality rates through
the construction of appropriate
facilities for expectant mothers and
other patients.
Mr. Fesehaye Haile, Governor
of the Region, addressed the
Assembly.
The Gash Barka Assembly has
59 members.
Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, 16 March, 2016
2
Vol 23. No. 4
Teachers: the Agents for Change
Mela Ghebremedhin
A paid occupation… an
occupation that one professes to
be skilled in, in other words, a
profession, a vocation… Each one
of us has his or her area of work;
however, some jobs are more than
just a paid position of a regular
employment reduced to a task or
piece of work but goes beyond
that. Some professions have high
responsibility or duty to a society
requiring dedication and devotion.
Some will be involved in saving
the lives of others, while some
will be responsible for educating a
population. Health and educational
sectors, hence, remain the most
valuable careers while being the
agents of success and well being of
a society for generations to come.
The passion and devotion required
within these areas of expertise go
far beyond the ambition of ‘being
rich’ but more of a satisfaction and
feeling of contributing and helping
each other.
With the idea of passing the torch
to the next generation, creates,
undeniably, a sense of ownership
and responsibility. This is actually
what teachers do in their daily life.
When one notices how teachers
are respected and always called
‘memhir’ or ‘teacher’, while
youngsters will feel embarrassed
if their teachers caught them doing
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Azmera Berhane
Sara Alem
teachers. Nonetheless, with the
growing enrollment of children
in schools nationwide, numbers
of stakeholders and consultants
came together to revise the quality
of teaching and after 4-5 years of
hard work; the Asmara Community
College of Education implemented
a new system of recruitment of
future teachers since 2012.
Katri Merilainen, education
expert, from the Finn Church Aid
something silly… These are all
sign of esteem teachers still own in
Eritrea while it is becoming rare in
many parts of the world.
As a beautiful profession, however,
many youth would not choose this
field and the lack of motivation and
desire create shortages in terms
of human resources as well as
decrease in quality of teaching in
the country. With a growing idea
that success is synonym to wealth
and materialism, teaching, although
highly respected, is perceived as a
low-paid job. Accordingly, many
youth will, as an alternative, choose
fields within the business and
financial sectors, a charismatic and
devoted teacher, Mr. Tesfamariam
Woldeab, explained.
Overcoming the idea of success
to be solely about money is a
challenging task to Eritrea. As
the country is still struggling in
providing better access to education
to all corners of the country as a
national priority; the Government
of Eritrea is currently undertaking
an aspiring plan in ensuring and
promoting the important role of
teachers in the country.
As being the 8th College under the
umbrella of the Ministry of Education
and the National Commission for
Higher Education, the College
implemented an ambitious program
Director of ACCE, Mr. Alem
Ghebrekal
aiming at producing quality
teachers by implementing a strict
admission procedure. Mr. Alem
Ghebrekal, Director of the ACCE,
explained that it came at a critical
juncture to reshape the system of
recruiting teachers in the country.
Indeed, initially, students who had
low results during their 12th grade
matriculation were enrolled in a
one-year program at the TTI to
learn how to teach at elementary
and primary schools level.
By upgrading its status as a
College allows the school to revise
its methodology by solely focusing
on producing high quality teachers
from early stage. In doing so,
the most challenging part was to
make the school attractive. The
determined plan was possible by
attracting future teachers with
excellence through a recruitment
process from 10th grade level.
Mr. Alem explained that the
recruitment process aims at
selecting the best 10th grade high
school students by passing an
examination as well as an interview
prior their enrolment to the ACCE.
By being able to have their 11th and
12th tuition at the ACCE allows
students to firstly, be taught by
highly qualified teachers, with the
ability to pass their matriculation
without having to go to Sawa
Educational Training and, to then,
continue at diploma level at the
ACCE or degree level at the College
of Eritrean Institute of Technology
(EIT) in Mai Nefhi.
Being taken care of during their
high school years by providing a
good atmosphere of learning, free
accommodation, services as well
as textbooks have clearly attracted
Jukka Tulivuori, Education
Expert from the Finn Church
Aid explaining the importance of
enhancing pedagogy within the
education system
many to apply. This new system,
which seems very ambitious at
first, has the characteristic of
looking at teaching as a valuable
job, which requires highly skilled
professionals.
When we walked around the
school we noticed that students
came from all parts of the country.
Despite the fact that the ACCE
has about 900 students enrolled
with 700 new entrants including
200 at diploma level and a ratio
of 57% being female students,
classes have a capacity of about
25 students, which is clearly lower
than national average. With having
the mother tongue as the elementary
and primary school language of
teaching, it was primordial to attract
students from all background and
Contined on page 6
In doing so, the Asmara
Community College of Education
(ACCE), formerly known as
Teachers
Training
Institute
(TTI), has taken a step forward in
overcoming these challenges. Thus,
the ACCE opened its doors to my
colleagues and I this past Monday,
and in today’s issue, we will look at
the promising program implemented
by the ACCE in partnership with the
Government of Finland.
In context, TTI has been up
and running since 1943 and was
solely focusing on producing
primary school teachers and, to
some extent, junior high school
Students during their Psychology class at the Asmara Community College of Education
Eritrea
Eritrea Profile,
Profile, Wednsday,
Wednesday,16
16March,
March,2016
2016
3
VolVol
23.23.
No.No.
4 4
Combating FGM/C in Eritrea
FGM/C, a form of violence
against women, is defined as a
practice that involves partial or total
removal of female external genital
parts and/or injury to the female
genital organs for cultural or any
other non-therapeutic reasons.
media campaign was implemented
through TV-talk shows, Radio
programs, General Knowledge
competitions and Drama shows. In
addition, campaign leaflets, posters,
booklets and bags with Anti-FGM/C
messages were disseminated. A
video film “Behind the Curtains of
Agony,” produced by the Ministry
of Health was also presented and
had a dramatic effect in villages
propagating attitude and behavior
change. During this phase of the
campaign, a variety of processes
occurred beyond consciousnessraising such as collective action
and exchange of ideas.
It is a practice that violates
well-established human rights
principles. It violates the right to
life and it is also a violation of the
right to freedom of choice. It is
against the CEDAW principles as
it would be defined as a genderbased act "that result in physical,
sexual and psychological harm”.
Combating FGM/C in Eritrea
is considered a high development
issue and has required and still
requires vigorous and continued
efforts aimed at raising awareness
of its dangers and ultimate
elimination.
The National Union of Eritrean
Women (NUEW) spearheaded a
campaign to eradicate this deep
rooted cultural practice since its
establishment during the armed
struggle (1979). The Union
incorporated these activities into its
overall sensitization programs and
has registered significant results
over the years.
At the initial period of postindependence,
the
Eritrean
demographic surveys of 1995
and 2002 indicated that between
95% and 89% of Eritrean girls are
subjected to FGM/C. It had become
a real threat to the health and lives
of many young girls. Hence, wellcoordinated and designed strategies
for successful implementation
became critical.
After independence, NUEW
relied on social mobilization as a
strategy to empower women and
create social solidarity in Eritrea’s
regions/zobas in fighting against
FGM. Cooperation frameworks
with
different
international
organizations such as UN
agencies, embassies and NGOs
were developed. Participants of
the movement were the local
government, the youth association,
religious leaders from Christian
and Muslim faiths, representatives
from the Ministry of Health and
Ministry of Labor and Human
welfare. Social mobilization was
the guiding principle of NUEW’s
anti-FGM/C campaign. The aim
Enactment
Proclamation
of
FGM
Religious leaders in anti-FGM public discussion
was to create sustainable behavioral
change in the society.
Establishment of Anti – FGM
Committees
Institutional set up of the Zoba
level Anti FGM/C Committees
Steps taken in eradicating
FGM/C
Following
consciousnessraising a consensus was reached
in all zobas to create Anti- FGM/C
campaign committees charged
with eradicating the practice. All
pertinent stakeholders such as the
local government, NUEW, Ministry
of Health and others were member
of the committee. Committee
activities included organizing public
meetings in numerous villages to
raise awareness on FGM/C. IEC
materials translated in to local
languages were disseminated at
these meetings. These meetings
provided
opportunities
for
community member both male
and female to openly discuss
FGM/C and exchange opinions.
Additionally, a wide ranged of
trainings were offered in order to
enhance the knowledge and skill of
the members of these committees.
Over 2000 adult education teachers
were trained on gender based
violence and FGM/C. Training
topics were; gender, FGM/C and
early marriage, advocacy and
communication.
Anti – FGM/C Committees
at the Zoba and sub zoba level
were established in all six Zobas
in Eritrea. The committees are
critical components of the national
grassroots campaign to stop
FGM/C. They are the driving force
at the Zoba level to mobilize and
coordinate local communities in
implementing the strategies.
“Breaking the silence” – Public
discussions through advocacy
NUEW began the process of
abandoning and demystifying
FGM/C through action, reflection
and breaking the silence of the
taboo of discussion on FGM/C.
Vibrant discussions took place
among men and women. During
the initial stages, campaigners
reached 90% of the total villages
in Eritrea. This phase was the most
important period of the project
life, because it was during this
period the struggle for change of
attitude and beliefs accelerated.
The outcome of this mobilization
has brought an increase of attitude
towards the steady eradication of
circumcision; the rate of decline in
this practice was at 38% in 1995,
and it increased to 49% in 2000
and later to 82% in 2010 (EPHS
2010).
The roles and responsibilities
of the Zoba level Anti-FGM/C
Committees are three fold. First,
they plan, implement, and promote
the anti- FGM/C strategy in Eritrea.
Second, they draft action plans and
monitor the progress of village
sensitization campaigns. Third,
they coordinate with different
stakeholders to establish a platform
for knowledge sharing regarding
accomplishments and barriers
encountered in tackling FGM/C in
their communities.
These Anti- FGM/C committees
also played a significant role
in implementation. The local
administrator would chair the
committees and NUEW would
act as secretary while MOH was
the technical expert. They would
organize various tasks that target the
practice and push for the banning
of FGM/C and early marriage.
Public Declaration
The second stage was to reach a
consensus in communities to stop
the practice of FGM/C by public
declaration. To achieve this, a mass
Eritrea adopted a law to ban
FGM/C in March 2007 joining
other African countries with Anti
FGM/C related laws and policies.
The government of Eritrea enacted
proclamation No.158/2007 on the
abolition of Female circumcision.
Through this proclamation, female
genital
mutilation
(FGM/C)
became criminal offence. The
proclamation highlights its serious
threat on health and life of women.
The law also underlined the
practice as a violation to human
rights through depriving of their
physical and mental integrity and
their right to freedom from violence
and discrimination (Proclamation
No. 158/2007). In Eritrea the
law serves as one component
of a multi-sectoral approach to
end the practice. Its enforcement
has empowered women and
community-based initiatives to ban
FGM/C.
Enforcement of the Law
The final stage of NUEW’s
Anti FGM/C campaign is very
challenging. The objective is to
enforce the law banning practice
of FGM/C. This stage requires
empowerment at the individual
and community levels. In this
process widespread training was
and continues to be conducted
and involves many sectors of the
society including the police, legal
experts, and influential elders of
the communities for effective
enforcement of the law.
Compiled by Rigat Tesfamichael
Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, 16 March, 2016
4
Vol 23. No. 4
Recalling Archives of 1950s
Eritrea’s Newspapers
Yosief Abraham Z.
As one of the main drivers of
the publishing industry in Eritrea,
Hidri Publishers has been making
concerted efforts in archiving
vital literary productions of
the country. Published in 2015,
‘Tezekari TikSitat Gazietatat
Ertra, 1942-1962,’ is one of the
well acclaimed books readers
were ushered to have in that year.
In fact, the contents are enriched
with deep culture of ideating as
well as arts of politics, economics
and socio-psychology.
For instance, we can simply
look at what lied beneath the
intrinsic meaning of home.
Among Eritreans, there are three
words which raise mystique and
powerful influence: mother, home
and country.
Thus, amid global migration
crisis, the significance of having
your home, your family and
friends, came clear. Conforming
to this very idea, on its 14th
September 1942 issue, ‘Semunawi
Gazetatat, underscores that ‘…
even foxes and other animals
from the woods never accept
others propose that they—the
animals--have to abandon their
shelter believing that the lodge
which is provided by others is
noble and great.’
Our culture teaches great love;
yes, a deeply rooted affection to our
home. Consolidating harmonious
relationship with your neighbors
is also another noble belief of the
Eritrean culture. Certain to this,
your neighbors are there to share
the time of rainy seasons, and to
redouble your moments of joy.
Thus, living with your neighbor—
at individual and national level—
in agreeable and concordant way
is manifested boldly. An article
from ‘Hanti Ertra’ on its 7th
November 1951 publication also
testifies this fact.
to end, the newspaper conveyed
one great message on its March
30, 1952 publication:
“…Eritreans are seeking for
peace; they are searching for
peace to prevail among their
neighbors, brothers and sisters,
relatives and even they wish
peace to their opponents. And to
witness stability in their country,
to have peace in the barren lands
and in cities is their desire. Thus,
we know that those elected
members of the assembly came
from lowlands and highlands.
The writer underscored, “As
the maxims of our ancestors say,
In order to have a glowing sleep,
first, we need to guarantee that
our neighbor is in a good sleep.”
By far, the value of work and
being employed in transforming
your-self and your society
begins at home. An idle son is
highly accused for choosing to
be a black-sheep of the family.
Having taken this into account
therefore, on August 6, 1954,
‘Dehai Ertra,’ posted a message
on it publication attributed as, ‘It
is better and honorable to stay in
your home and advocate for your
dignity rather than begging from
the gardens of the colonialist.’
And with that comment, the
newspaper underlined the value
of home as a source of dignity
and pride.
Evidently, home is the means
which brings yesterday night’s
cultures into the lights of today.
Following to the responsibility
of the parents, Eritrean cultures
specify the responsibilities of
every member of a family. So, out
of the dilemma world, we can say
that we love our home; and yet,
loving your home is not enough.
Thus, what role are we playing
in expressing our love towards
our home? On February 1, 1943,
‘Semunawi Gazeta’ published one
stimulating comment of a reader,
“Thus, what purposeful schemes
have we accomplished towards
our home, towards this ethereal
nation?
Have
we
undertaken
afforesting
ventures
and
replanted fruits? Or are we tasked
with constructing this bridge
that we cross from markets to
the picturesque villages? Are we
leaving developmental sculptures
for remembrance and trophy?
So what did we accomplish?”
Proverbs of Eritrean generations
underscore this fact: ‘Judge
People from their actions rather
than their words of speeches.’
In fact, the art of living with
one typical Eritrean family
teaches developing the sense of
shouldering your responsibilities.
As the religiously supported
culture teaches, our stay in this
world is for a short time, an
individual is nurtured in the way
that he develops deep attachment
with his family, with his home and
the area he nurtured. And through
this, individuals are encouraged to
contribute something before the
forces of death makes transferred
them to netherworld. With this
ideology in its core aim, ‘Wihidet
Eritrea,’ the Arabic version of
‘Hanti Ertra,’ on its November
28, 1951 publication postulated:
“We are witnessing youths who
migrate individually and at group
level with ‘ARAMCO,’ a foreign
and well-capitalized firm. In fact,
this is part of the colonialists’
conspiracy which we need to
pay our provocative thoughts
thereby to curb the immigration
of young people; of course, those
young are leaving their country
lured by a few monetary rewards.
Dear brothers! Never let your
heart sympathized for alluring
intents. …And, assuredly, yours
is better than the country you
are immigrated. …so, show your
steadfastness with your country.
For money is merest, and we are
mortal, let’s stand in full spirit;
yes, in full strength with our
country in moments of rainy and
happy seasons.”
Undeniably, unity is what
makes a home stand in full pride
and dignity. The pillars of home
never stand perfectly where there
are religious as well as ethnical
divisions, and chauvinism is
rampant or dominant. Despite
its loyal subservience to the
Hailesselassie’s regime and
his imperialist desires, ‘Gazeta
Ethiopia,’ clearly asserted the
desire of Eritreans towards their
home. After the election for
members of the assembly came
That is why it is not appropriate
to address them by their religious
beliefs. As we have affirmed
crucially, all are Eritreans and we
believe on this fact.”
I found this a very articulate
statement. Home is for all us
to leave in peace, liberty and
justice. Dragging factors like
popularizing
any
sectarian
divisions is, under any time, the
foundation of other crisis thereby
to embroil the beloved home
into prolonging troubles. As
the common maxim put clearly,
home is sweet, nostalgic and
hub of great moments. And to
encourage the culture of saving
your home from various notions
of devastations, its members
expect to agree in addressing
the vital issues. Therefore, are
technological
advancements,
scientific discoveries or art and
its fantasies are the cognized
priorities of the beloved home?
On its June, 17 1948 publication,
‘Semunawi Gazeta,’ stated: “…if
we failed to remain successful in
the agricultural arena, then, how
are we going to be prosperous
and civilized? Of course, by
excelling agriculture, is how we
can develop.” This is the truth.
In this age of political games
where even food policies and
strategies have been politicized
thereby to satiate the demands
of the implementers, our home
expects to feed itself profoundly.
Indeed, this is the culture and
art we expect to bequeath from
our forefathers philosophies and
literary assets.
Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, 16 March, 2016
5
Vol 23. No.4
“I don’t speak Tigrigna that much!”
Natnael Yebio W.
“Language is what gives
us the means for the intimate
relationship with the space, place,
and ceremony that makes for
understanding and celebrating
our place in connection with all of
creation.”–Regis Pecos
Nearly every two weeks, a
language dies off completely.
That’s according to National
Geographic Explorer Wade Davis,
citing a rather alarming statistic.
He also discusses how languages
help to shape the way we think and
look at the world, and how sad it
is that around fifty percent of the
languages spoken in the world are
no longer being taught to children.
Take a moment and think about
that. Half of all the languages
remaining in the world aren’t being
learned by the younger generation.
When elders die off, what happens
to that language?
According
to
nationwide
statistics, only 175 native languages
remained spoken in 1995, 90
percent of those were classified
as moribund, meaning fewer and
fewer children were learning them.
With about 3,500 of the world’s
7,000 known spoken languages
in danger of disappearing over
the next hundred years, that’s the
question that an incredibly large
number of cultures need to ask.
And the problem is even worse than
those numbers would indicate.
Every few years, an Atlas of
the World’s Languages in Danger
of Disappearing is released by
the United Nations Educational,
Scientific,
and
Cultural
Organization (UNESCO). It places
endangered languages into one of
five categories: unsafe, definitely
endangered, severely endangered,
critically endangered, and extinct.
Of those 3,000 or so endangered
languages, around 400 have 50
or fewer speakers in the entire
world and 200 of those have 10
or fewer speakers. They are dying
out, and with them a large piece of
the culture that they reflected and
described. And that’s from back in
2009 – since then, more languages
have surely been added to the list.
Globalization can be seen as one
of the causes of language extinction.
The language most commonly
associated with globalization, often
disparagingly, is English. Over two
billion people speak English, some
two-thirds as a second language.
While there are more Chinese
speakers in the world (combining
all of its various dialects), English
is spoken in more countries and
more often as a second language
than any other, and its use continues
to grow. English is the language
most often studied as a foreign
language. For example, 89 percent
of schoolchildren in the European
Union study English as a foreign
language, nearly three times the
next-highest language (French, 32
percent).
The spread of English alarms
many who view it as a “killer
language,” that is, one which
displaces the use of a nation’s
mother tongue as it spreads. As
the language of business, English
is also associated with some of the
harmful excesses of colonialism
and corporate multinationals.
More subtly, as English displaces
native tongues, culture and history
are lost. Cultural and historical
references inherent in words,
particularly place names, are lost
in translation to foreign tongues
lacking appropriate analogs.
I myself spend half my time
obsessing over different English
words as opposed to Tigrigna or
Arabic ones and it is not just me but
most of my peers seem to do so as
well, at times it is quite surprising
how I find it easy to express myself
in English rather than in Tigrigna.
How many of us find it simple to
text in English or write a letter in
English. Growing up I remember
whenever I was asked to write a
letter to my Grandma who resided
in Italy, I usually wrote the letter
in English first and then translated
it to Tigrigna, funny and sad isn’t
it?!
These are the times we live in;
with each day that goes by I am
quite sure we tend to forget a word
or two, which is very alarming! I
recently read an article in “Hadas
Eritra” that addressed this issue,
the author was quite shocked by
the number of women he came
across who constantly told him
they couldn’t speak Tigrigna nor
write properly. He found it difficult
to have a decent evening out with
such; I was bemused and at the
same time ashamed because I am
possibly one of these people.
Whether a boy or a girl ; the story
is the same, we have a propensity
to lose a bit of our Tigrigna as we
grow up and take on English as our
medium of communication, perhaps
the reason can be that past the fifth
grade students take on English as
a medium of education and that
continues till we graduate. That is
roughly ten years of academics in
English, when I come to think of
it…..no wonder we are inclined to
speak English with our mates.
Subsequently, English has
become the modern lingua franca,
i.e. the language of communication
among speakers of other tongues.
As such, English can help bridge
communication barriers across
cultures. A common language
enables agreements between
nations seeking trade or political
ties. China and Brazil’s cooperative
agreement to develop and launch
communications satellites was
published in English as well as
Chinese and Portuguese. English
has emerged as either the de facto
or official language for airline
and maritime travel, computers,
mass media, international sports
(such as the International Olympic
Committee) and tourism - all
industries which themselves help
connect cultures with all that being
said we still have to be aware of it
negative implications as well.
At the end of the day there are
different ideas about the best ways
to preserve a language. One way is
to encourage younger generations
to speak the language as they
grow, so they will then teach their
children the language as well.
Teenagers might spend most of
their time in school and with their
friends who find it easy to talk and
communicate in English but at
home the mother tongue is the first
medium of communication and it
is important to keep talking by it.
In many cases, this option is nearly
impossible. There are often many
factors that endanger a language,
and it is impossible to control
each of these factors to ensure its
survival.
The internet can be used to raise
awareness about the issues of
language extinction and language
preservation. It can be used to
translate, catalog, store, and
provide information and access
to languages. New technologies
such as podcasts can be used to
preserve the spoken versions of
languages, and written documents
can preserve information about the
native literature and linguistics of
languages.
Using written documents to
preserve information about the
native literature and linguistics is
also not without potential problems.
Just because a language is written
down, this does not mean it will
survive. Written information in a
book or manuscripts form is subject
to acid issues, binding problems,
environmental
monitoring
problems and security concerns.
Technology can also be used to
preserve the integrity of spoken
versions of languages. Many
of the same techniques used in
recording oral history can be used
to preserve spoken languages.
Preservationists can use reel-toreel audio tape recordings, along
with video recordings, and new
technologies like podcasts to record
spoken accounts of languages.
Technology is also vulnerable
to new technology. Preservation
efforts would fail if the technology
to listen to or watch certain media
such as audio tape recordings or
video tapes is lost.
Finally, when talking about trying
to preserve the language of a culture
and a country, it is not merely that
we are hoping to protect a single
group of people and their heritage,
but keep something from being lost
to all of us. There’s a lot that can
be learned from the differences in
languages, but if they disappear,
oftentimes they are gone for good.
Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, 16 March, 2016
Photographers Corner
Contined from page 2
regions so as to ensure that there will be
sufficient qualified teachers in all areas.
In addition, producing quality teachers after
completion of their high school year is possible
through a newly implemented program at
diploma level. In fact, with its implementing
partner, the Finn Church Aid, the Government
of Eritrea, is now embarked in a program
where the teaching system is being revised
from a content focused-teaching to a more
didactic or pedagogic method of teaching as
the Education Experts, Ms. Katri Meriläinen
and Mr. Jukka Tulivuori explained.
With an initial system, which remains very
subject-concentrated and knowledge-content,
the new program is aiming at shaping the
teaching system into a more pedagogical
one by letting teachers to be more creative
and more autonomous in terms of schooling
method. In doing so, the Finn Church Aid, in
partnership with the National Commission
6
Vol 23. No.4
Photo: Mihretab Ghebremichael
Agurdet, Gash barka Region
2012
Teachers: the Agents ...
for Higher Education, has started a program
since October 2015 in training teachers
through pedagogical forum, reading circles
as well as providing personal support and
coach-teaching, evaluating and discussing
scientific articles in regards to pedagogy and
psychology.
The program is designed to transform the
traditional method of a teacher standing in
front of the class while students listen and
ingurgitate knowledge towards a system
promoting a sense of sharing ideas between
students and teachers. Mr. Jukka informed that
this “traditional teaching method of having to
know everything was also present in Finland
in the 1970s, however, now, a teacher is not
supposed to know everything and instead he
or she should be able to say I don’t have the
answer but let’s find it together. And this is the
type of pedagogy we are working on with our
Eritrean colleagues”.
Further, the diploma program is divided
into three lines of studies passing by natural
sciences, social sciences as well as educational
administration without failing to recall the
practical teaching exercises.
Improving the teaching standards on a
sustainable basis is the aim of the program and
therefore, it was important to train teachers
who are already doing the job. To strengthen
this, summer programs have already started
these past years allowing teachers to also
upgrade their certificate level to a diploma
one after completion of summer courses.
While the quality of teaching is being revised
and improved, it is, without a doubt, important
to also look at the current curriculum. Hence,
as part of the work of six different Finnish
universities with the Ministry of Education is
to look at the course planning and improve the
teaching curriculum with the idea of including
further subjects at primary and secondary
school levels.
Clearly, sharing knowledge and ideas with
Finland, as one of the renowned educational
system in the world, the Government of
Eritrea is clearly embarked in improving the
quality of education for generations to come.
“By knowing how to teach, when I will go
back to my hometown as a teacher, I will be
able to pass on my knowledge and ensure that
my younger brothers and sisters will learn
properly and effectively from early age;”
as Sabrin Osman, a student at the ACCE
explained.
Teachers, as being the agents for change
and the motto for educating a society from the
first years of one’s life, remain a rewarding
profession, which continues to be respected
in Eritrea. Yet, the educational system will
have to overcome the issues of incentives
by revising the question of wages and giving
access to attractive benefits as civil servant to
the Eritrean society in order to inspire others
to follow this vocation.
Eritrea Profile,Wednesday, 16 March, 2016
Vol 23. No.4
SPECIFIC PROCUREMENT NOTICE (SPN)
State of Eritrea
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Enhancing Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education for
Social Justice
INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB)
Date: March 16, 2016
IFB No.: PMU-MoE/GPE/G/ICB/001/2016
Procurement of Reference Books
The Government of The State of Eritrea (GoSE) has received a financing from the Global Partnership for
Education in various currencies towards the cost of Enhancing Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education for
Social Justice. It is intended that part of the proceeds of this financing will be applied to eligible payments under the
contract for the Procurement of Reference Books.
1.
The Project Management Unit of the Ministry of Education (PMU–MoE) now invites sealed Bids from eligible
Bidders for the supply of Reference Books to Ministry of Education Libraries.
2.
Bidding will be conducted through the International Competitive Bidding (ICB) procedures, and is open to all
bidders.
3.
Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from and inspect the bidding documents at the office
of PMU–MoE, Hday Street No.: 748-1, Dembe Sembel, Block “A”, First Floor, P. O. Box: 1099, Asmara, Eritrea,
Tele: +291-1-151614, Fax: +291-1-152181, Email: [email protected], or [email protected]
4.
A complete set of Bidding Documents in the English language may be purchased by interested bidders on the
submission of a written Application to the address below and upon payment of a none refundable fee Eritrean Nakfa
(ERN) 750.00 or equivalent, starting Wednesday 16, March 2016. Foreign bidders shall transfer the cost of Bidding
Documents in USD to GAZPROMBANK (OPEN JOINT-STOCK COMPANY), MOSCOW RUSSIA, and SWIFT:
GAZPRUMM for credit to account No. 30111840100000005742 of Bank of Eritrea, Asmara, Eritrea, in favor of
beneficiary, i.e. PMU - MOE for further credit to our Acct. No. EESIP-GOE 120.301.0359 maintained with them. If
documents are required to be sent by courier additional USD 35.00 or equivalent shall be transferred to the above
account number.
5.
Bids must be delivered to the above office on or before 10:00 hours local time (GMT +3) on Tuesday May 03,
2016 and must be accompanied by a security of USD 6,000.00 (Six thousand US Dollars) or Eritrean Nakfa 90,000.00
(Ninety Thousand ERN).
6.
Bids will be opened in the presence of bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at 10:00 hours local time
(GMT +3) on Tuesday May 03, 2016, at the offices of PMU–MoE, Hday Street No.: 748-1, Dembe Sembel, Block
“A”, First Floor, Asmara, Eritrea.
7.
7
Eritrea Profile,Wednesday, 16 March, 2016
8
Vol 23. No.4
“The wisdom of Eritrea’s Paintings
remains full of rich traditional Values”
Born in 1983, Berhe Russom Ghirmay is one of the promising and self-thought painters. With different notions of painting, he
has joined us today.
The role of painting in the
daily life of Eritreans
In fact, there is a long aged
traditional way of embellishing
hudmos—traditional homes—
with natural segments of soil
and colors produced from
various floras; yet, this is still
intact in some villages. And
old parchments from various
monasteries also have great
testimonies of well-illustrated
traditional paintings. In this
regard, the archives of Bizen
Monastery, for instance, has
well-kept treasures since its
establishment in 1368. Through
this way, therefore, we can
comprehend the vitality of
painting in the life of the society
for prolonged time.
Varieties of the long aged
styles…
Like others in this field, I agree
that the varieties were ranged
from the Coptic Byzantium to the
Eri-Byzantium, and less often,
there were other styles. But
the medium was limited. With
growing interests to simplicity,
nowadays, we have different
notions,
sect
of styles and
mediums.
P o s t Independence
Eritrea’s
p a i n t i n g
status…
U n d e n i a b l y,
after
the
untimely curbed
hot movements
of
modern
paintings
of
the 1950s, it
is only after
independence
that
Eritrea’s
painting started
to be exposed
into numerous
routes
of
creativity.
And as a result,
from the limited
atmosphere,
our
young
painters
have
been successful
in
different
painting styles
such as realism,
modernism,
charcoal, cubism, and watercolor, contemporary among
others. Hence, in regards to
painting, after independence we
noticed modern notions became
the most common type of art.
Main captivating elements
of the current young painters’
products…
With very basic education,
these young painters have been
able to stand within the field
of art in Eritrea. The creativity
and use of colors clearly show
the potential of our youngsters.
Hopefully, with the upcoming
initiatives
by
concerned
government bodies, future
programs will be implemented.
Impacts of the young painters
in setting solid foundations for
the coming bequeathals…
The year of 2014 is still the
golden year for Eritrean painting
treasures; it was a leap year.
The role of the teenagers from
Satreb and Segen Art schools
is, in fact, worth-mentioning.
Moreover, despite the certainty
for advocating continuous
commitment, within an over
three-century chronicles, it was
in 2014 that our artists pushed
the excellence of our painting
styles.
And if there is any uniquely
designated Eritrean painters’
style…
In the first place, painting and
artists are against any form of
discriminatory
designations.
Writing the name of the
respective artists in any local
language could help to identify
it. The objects we are painting
also refer something about
Eritrea. Among numerous
painting mediums and styles,
however, it is not proper, to
demarcate the art as ‘Eritrean’
painting style, looking at its
objective contents is worth and
encouraged.
Pertaining to Mr. Berhe’s
well acclaimed painting entitled
‘Homesickness’…
There, we see a migrant
holding the Lady Rosary Church
or as locally known ‘Cathedral’.
Missing your home, living
among a society who has his
own lifestyle, while carrying
the burden of loneliness and
depression, are a few omens of
being a migrant.
This is the feeling of many
living in exile that I tried to
represent through the painting
of ‘Cathedral’. As the late singer
Abraham Afewerki clearly said,
‘Being alone is the worst type
of poverty.’ This is what the
painting reflects.
As regards to why Mr. Berhe
is still continuing in field of
painting…
Colors are languages; they
convey ideas, dreams and facts.
And the meaning of life comes
true when you are aspired to
expose what is engraved deep
inside your dream, abstract ideas
which are beyond the tangible
world. Reasonably, the meaning
of life is freely enjoyable
when there is a question to be
answered, a personal struggle
to be waged and something that
have to be shared. I believe this
is commonly applicable even
among others.
Final thoughts…
The appreciations of the
society toward painting and
painters’ have been pushing the
borders of excellence, especially
in the past three years.
This is not entirely deniable;
thus, by improving the weak
part of our current status, I am
hopeful to witness tremendous
leap in the forthcoming results
within world of Eritrean
painters.