Addis Ababa University (AAU’s) CDT-Africa held a panel discussion in cooperation with Ethiopian Academy of Sciences on the issue of creating national movement to transform science and innovation ecosystem of Ethiopia at Intercontinental Hotel on 14^th of May 2021.

The goal of the discussion is to create a national revolution at a grassroots movement through which children across the country, particularly gifted children, will be offered opportunity to enhance their knowledge in Science and Math and nature, their creativities to solve local problems.

The discussion indicated that it is aimed to promote scientific citizenry to transform the innovation ecosystem of the country through grassroots movement.This helps to put science and innovation in a sustainable footing through continuous pipeline of creation and broader support of societal problem solving.

Achieving this hope depends a great deal on how effective the nation is in transforming its education system, particularly in the areas of Science and Math, and develop sustainable and large-scale pipeline of innovators and discoverers.

This will be a five-year project with up to two years of initial planning and piloting period. If successfully implemented, sustainability mechanisms will be put in notion before the end of the five year period.

“Countries that were exactly where Africa is now few decades ago, such as Japan and South Korea, rose from the ashes in a very short time by transforming their education system. The education prepares students to focus on critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and innovation, question formation, global awareness, communication and technology skills.”

Professor TassewWeldehanna, President of AAU, forwarded the following message while opening the panel discussion:

”The concept of science is very important for the development of a country. It is unthinkable to develop without a scientific perspective. Scientific views are essential to the development of a science-based policy. To do this, we need to grow up believing in science, from a child to a high-ranking official.

If our society does not develop scientific knowledge, our research results will not be able to go beyond shelf heating to enrich policy and strategy design. It is only when we have a society, practitioners and policy makers that believe in the concept of science that we can put research findings into a policy and a way that benefits society.

A lot of research results have been published in our universities, including AAU, and try to spread them as much as possible. But we never see them when they are applied in a real work. The universities are more to blame for this, but the main problem is that we do not have a society, policy makers and practitioners that believe in science.

Teaching-learning, researching and providing professional community service are their main missions for universities. Teaching and research are often practiced and can be done without much control. But the biggest challenge is to transfer professional community service and scientific findings to the user community as well as the private sector.

The problem is that we have a society that is not built on science from the beginning and does not take science as a way of development. As a result, even better research and technology transfer will not yield results.

In order for universities to provide professional social services, science must first be implanted in the community. Only when we can do this in order, we can prosper our country the way we want it to be.

To develop the concept of science, we need to start with children. The purpose of this program is to impart science to children and make them develop with it. a lot of work requires to do this for children from kindergarten to elementary school (ages 4-12).

It is a great idea to follow the way we spread science in children through television, radio and social media programs, as well as theatre and the arts.

Therefore, since the agenda requires cooperation, we will focus on this and discuss how to do it. AAU will take this idea as a professional community service and includes it for teachers and researchers in their time.

I believe this important idea will be a way for Ethiopia to make a big difference in the future by implementing it in other universities as well.”

Geremew Huluka (PhD), State Minister at the Ministry of Education of the FDRE, mentioned the following key points while concluding the one day long panel discussion held at Intercontinental Hotel:

”I realized that the idea of ​​‘Envisioning Tomorrow’s Ethiopia through Science and Innovation’ was widely discussed and timely and should be implemented quickly.

Although the discussion gives us wider understanding of general education, technology, science, innovation, child development, and the whole picture of the world including Ethiopia, the agenda is much broader to assess its full contents.

It must first be agreed that the issue is a very important one that requires general national mobilization, awareness creation, initiation, motivation and commissioning as it applies to all Ethiopians as part of the national agenda.

This agenda is not something that can be overlooked, as many of our important issues have been put on hold for various reasons. There is no need to back down from this, as science and innovation are believed to require a great deal of transformation. ‘It is a change towards betterment.’

According to science, we need holistic transformation from infancy. At the same time, it must be acknowledged that creativity has to do with the use of the Creator. If creativity does not benefit the Creator, then the Creator does not inspire creativity.

It is important that the Ministry of Education address the ‘Where to Start’ question in connection with the government’s extensive education policy and curriculum change. I assure you that the Ministry of Education is 100% ready.

I have no doubt that the Ministry of Education will continue to support you, as it is our responsibility. It is also important to note that in addition to the Ministry of Education, there are many other institutions that are expected to work in coordination.

When it comes to the dissemination of science and innovation, it is not worth focusing only on the student; it should be comprehensive and inclusive, and I feel that it should be supported. It is the ruling idea that ‘we must create not only a scientific student but also a scientific community.’

The next step in translating this idea into action is project design. I advise you to link to the Ministry of Education’s General Education Department so as to get provisions of the necessary support and to reorganize the structure.

It is also important to identify which institution can contribute what (such as manpower, financial and material support) and disclose their responsibilities. Personally, I feel that an office should be set up under an institution that is in charge of the project.

You also need to understand where and how to use the media. I say this is a matter of brain making, not marketing.”

By: Abraham Girmay

Photo: Fikremariam Beyene