Ardaita's AVET college reopens digital labs
Agricultural cooperatives play a key role in the socio-economic development of countries. They allow farmers to access a dependable source of reasonably priced supplies, reliable services, and an improved income. Because of its agricultural potential, Ethiopia has been striving to ensure the functionality of such cooperatives aiming at increasing agricultural productivity and providing market opportunities.
The skills and expertise behind a cooperative are important to make them work effectively. Given its importance, the Ethiopian Government has been strengthening federal and regional agricultural Vocational Education and Training centres throughout the country. Currently, five Agricultural Vocational Education and Training (AVET) colleges are working to equip trainees with knowledge and develop key skills so that cooperatives can benefit farmers according to their needs.
A running system with comprehensive training opportunities
Located in the Oromia National Regional State and surrounded by farmlands, the Ardaita AVET college has been working for over 30 years with agricultural cooperatives, implementing short and long-term trainings on cooperative management, accounting, auditing, and marketing.
The college also engages in business advisory services and technology transfer for farmers. According to Abraham Girma, the College’s Technology Multiplication and Transfer Department Vice Dean, they have trained over 20,000 students over the years, improving the skills in this agricultural region. Besides skills development programmes, the Vice Dean states that “farmers also rely on the college to get well performing seeds, farming machineries, pesticides, fertilizers, and other essential agricultural and cattle rearing inputs”.
The skills and expertise behind a cooperative are important to make them work effectively. Given its importance, the Ethiopian Government has been strengthening federal and regional agricultural Vocational Education and Training centres throughout the country. Currently, five Agricultural Vocational Education and Training (AVET) colleges are working to equip trainees with knowledge and develop key skills so that cooperatives can benefit farmers according to their needs.
“Ardaita gave us a home by allowing us to study and stay here”
Trainees recognize the college’s contribution to the region and their families’ livelihoods. “This college gave us a home by allowing us to study and stay here” says Gossaye Gadissa. The 19-year old was awarded a scholarship for a three-year cooperative accounting and auditing diploma. The centre provides a dormitory and food for its trainees from all over the country. Scholarships are being granted for youth in the area and for trainees assigned by the federal government based on their qualification.
To support its operational costs, the college also generates income from farming and cattle rearing. Using its almost 1,000 hectares of land, the college supports the plantation and cultivation of wheat, barley, and other crops. They also have livestock with a herd of over 260 sheep and dairy cattle.
The Ardaita AVET college has been working with the Supporting Sustainable Agricultural Productivity (SSAP) project to ensure organizational development and better skills and knowledge. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. GIZ supports the college in implementing capacity building activities, developing learning materials and improving the skills of managers and trainers locally and internationally.
“In the past, trainees had to use one desktop for six or more.”
Lack of infrastructure and shortage of learning materials still pose a challenge to provide quality education and services. Moreover, the college was badly affected by last year’s unrest in the region when it was looted and vandalized.
The damage resulted in the closing of two of its computer labs, impacting its educational capacity. As part of the SSAP project work, IT equipment was provided to restore the college’s capacity. In the past month “trainees had to use one desktop for six people or more. With this new equipment, we will be able to re-open our digital labs.” says Ashenafi Gelagle, a teacher in the Accounting and Auditing Department. However, additional labs are needed. Wede Tadesse, a female scholarship winner, says: “We were worried about the certificate of competency (COC) exam which requires computer-based trainings. But now that is possible”.
GIZ´s continued support is improving the education quality enable management, staff, and students to strengthening skills and knowledge for the benefit of their communities. However, to fully exploit the potential of the Ardaita AVET college to become a ´Centre of Excellence` in Cooperative Management, more tools, training and skills development are needed. Students and teachers agree: “Be it through training or equipment”.
Given the impact that well-established agricultural cooperatives play in the livelihoods and income of Ethiopian communities, the Ethio-German Cooperation is committed to support quality vocational training programmes in educational facilities like the Ardaita AVET college.
Publishing date: 09 September 2021