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Ethiopia - USAID Launches New Program to Support Civic Education in Primary Schools

March 19, 2010, Addis Ababa: Ethiopian President His Excellency Ato Girma Wolde-Giorgis, State Minister for General Education Ato Fuad Ibrahim, and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Mr. Thomas H. Staal today launched the “Strengthening Civic Education in Primary Schools (SCEPS)” program at the National Palace. SCEPS is a five-year program (2010-2014) that will supplement civic education with complementary co-curricular activities in over 500 primary schools throughout Ethiopia.

Civics and ethics education is one of the core pillars of the Ministry of Education’s General Education Quality Improvement Package. Working through the Federal Ministry of Education and Regional Education Bureaus, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Scouts Association (ESA) and PACT Ethiopia, this $8.9 million program will provide children with tangible opportunities to put into practice the civics education lessons learned in school. Through co-curricular activities such as Boys and Girls Scouts and through student councils, the project will help students become socially active and responsible. The program also will support the Government of Ethiopia’s development of civic education materials.

USAID recognizes that scouting can instill integrity, commitment to community service, and the practice of good citizenship in young people. Speaking at the project launch, Mr. Staal said, “This civic education program will foster respect for the basic rights of all people from an early age, and will help prepare a new generation for leadership and participation in the development of their country.”

Dr. Costantinos Berhe, Chief Commissioner of the Ethiopian Scout Association, joined President Girma – himself a Patron of ESA – and Mr. Staal at the launch ceremony. Ethiopia launched its scouting movement in 1934. ESA is a member of the World Organization of Scouts.