Revamping Centers for Teacher Education and School Leadership Development in Ethiopia: A Pathway to Excellence

Abstract

This article attempted to find out the what and how the center of excellence in teacher
education and school leadership development scheme works to stimulate quality
education and training in Ethiopia. The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and
Higher Education, and higher education institutions are critical in the transition to
enhance quality education and training in the sector. Realizing the quality challenges
encountered, Ministry of Education has initiated a project, roadmap of 15 years for
teachers and school leadership preparation and development.The integral piece of this
transition is the presence of centers of excellence in teachers and school leadership
development for learning and teaching excellence, research and community engagement,
and make them operational. For the purpose, qualitative data were collected on the
status and functioning of the center of excellence from review of survey reports of
the five universities with center of excellence, and consultation of stakeholders during
conference. The findings indicated that some of the centers of excellences (CoEs)
had started training of teacher education without adequate preparation and fulfilling
the minimum institutional basics as well as conditions that the centers supposed to
meet. Based on the findings, it is concluded that the center of excellences operates in
the same way as that of public universities and there are no major shifts in different
areas to be center of excellence to attain the purpose. This is therefore to awake and
steer discussion among the stakeholders in creating clarity and develop consensus
on the roles and functioning of the CoEs in light of the preparation and support of
teachers and school leaders in Ethiopia for the 21st century. Then get the support and in
placement of the necessary basics for the implementation so as the centres’ objectives
will be realized, and consequently creating capacity to carry out research, developing
professionalism, teachers and school leaders for the nation.