As the thrills of new academic year begins to subside, AMU President, Dr Damtew Darza, takes the lid off 2019-20 Annual Plan, unraveling its strategically novel and down-to-earth ideas to deal with unforeseen challenges and move onwards with new vision; he touched upon all sectors and corresponding needs.
At the outset, he informed that the overall budget for 2019-20 is ETB 1,438,985,100, of which Capital budget stands at ETB 450 Million and recurrent amounts to ETB 988,985,100. Of this outlay, academic takes lion’s share of 64.18% (ETB 634,746,600), Research 3.21% (31,739,300), Community Service 4.97% (49,140,900) and administration will carry out its annual agenda with 27.64% ( ETB 273,358,300).
Getting down to brass tacks, he adds, as usual major sum goes to teaching-learning to fulfill increasing tasks as this year freshmen will primarily take common courses. Increasing staff, rising enrolment and need for advanced equipments at our libraries, laboratories, ICT and other areas need financial resources to address these issues and those promoted under JEG will be given due salary hike.
The focus of New Education Roadmap, he said, is to standardize education, bring attitudinal change, understanding of basic science, Math and finally bolster communication skill and that’s what all new entrants from engineering, natural, health, agriculture and social science disciplines will learn in 1st year of enrolment under common courses.
Henceforth, UG’s duration will be minimum of 4-year and from 2nd year respective studies will resume; subjects like physics, biology, math, general psychology, anthropology, Ethiopian Geography, History, Civics & Moral education, Inclusiveness and English courses will form the curriculum.
On staff development, he states, due to addition of common courses we may hire more teachers so that we can reach the desired goal. We have tailor-made trainings with each section having an advisor to address students’ different issues. He also informed that this year, AMU won’t launch new programs.
Elaborating further, he said adding actually, the implementation of new education roadmap has begun last year with bifurcation of education ministry into Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science and Higher Education and this time we will improve regulation pertaining to students’ discipline and other areas where there is lack of clarity in implementation. And hereafter, teachers’ appointment will be contractual lasting for two years that will be renewed depending upon their performance and those failing to deliver best will have no place.
He said, Science and Higher Education Ministry will soon categorize universities according to their niche areas and as of now data has been collected and based on respective strength both vertically and horizontally, varsities will be categorized as Research, Comprehensive and Applied University.
In administrative sector, he said, this year, under JEG, people were assigned new positions and trainings imparted to equip them with new skills; leadership trainings for middle-level staff to enhance their professional traits. Maintaining that mandate of Community Service is expanding, but he stressed, it must focus on issues like technology transfer, converting research output into projects benefitting community and leave the issues out of its purview, especially, which can be handled and managed by other stakeholders.
Listing out things to do, he said, this year, AMU will allow 10 MA and 94 other lower-level opportunities for administrative staff to continue their education, planning and cascading of university’s plan will also be carried out. Those performing well surely be incentivized that includes due promotion, etc. and academic staff can move up the ladder depending on their performance.
Accentuating core agenda, he said, peace will be sustained, when our service delivery is prompt; it needs to be improved and response has to be quick and issues related with good governance will be evaluated. More importantly, basic needs of students will be fulfilled, gaps will be evaluated and resentment from any quarters will get patient hearing by concerned body with timely response providing legitimate solution in a stipulated timeframe.
Exhorting further, he said, Education Quality and Good Governance Forum must periodically conduct meetings to identify issues and resolve them. Apart from quarterly performance evaluation meeting, we will involve students and teachers in the process to understand and sort out problems. We will assess veracity and enormity of problems and designate person to resolve issues, he stressed.
Procurement & Purchase Directorate’s performance will be evaluated and it’s likely that this entity will be bifurcated i.e. Procurement & Purchase and Property Directorate so that property will get more attention to address vexed issue of increasing waste. Even ICT Directorate’s performance will be evaluated and curative measures taken.
Expressing his desire, he said, ‘‘this year we will give our best to implement current plan and design the next five-year strategic plan based on government’s directive. Peace will continue to reign supreme in AMU, increasing wastage will be minimized and female students will be motivated for doctoral studies, he signed off.
(Corporate Communication Directorate)