A team from the Regional English Language Office (RELO) for East Africa, based at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa and led by RELO George Chinnery, responsible for overseeing US Department of State English Language programs in 14 East and Central Africa countries, visited the English ACCESS Scholarship Program at Arba Minch University (AMU) on February 20, 2026. Click here to see more photos.
AMU ACCESS Program Director, Dr. Abate Anjulo, speaking during the visit of the Regional English Language Officers (RELOs) to AMU, stated that the team conducted a comprehensive review of the Access Microscholarship Program, which began with a high-level meeting with university management and Access coordinators to establish the programmatic context and assess overall progress. He noted that the officers thoroughly examined program documents and financial records to verify administrative and fiscal compliance, held discussions with teachers and coordinators on implementation successes and challenges, and met with parent representatives to understand community perspectives. He further explained that the visit included an extensive classroom observation to evaluate instructional quality and student engagement, followed by direct interactions with participating students to gather immediate feedback. Dr. Abate added that the RELOs commended AMU’s Access Program for its strong documentation and the quality of its on-site and off-site activities, reflecting the University’s firm commitment to effective and accountable project implementation.
The ACCESS Program Coordinator at AMU, Dr. Adanech Zemede, explained that Regional English Language Officers (RELOs) are specialists of the U.S. Department of State who design and manage programs aimed at promoting English language learning and strengthening English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education worldwide. She noted that RELOs conduct needs assessments and provide professional guidance to U.S. embassies and host-country institutions on language education initiatives. Operating under the Public Affairs Section of their respective U.S. embassies, they oversee a wide range of programs, including the English Language Fellow Program, Virtual Educator and Specialist Programs, the English Access Micro-scholarship Program, the Online Professional English Network (OPEN) Program, as well as social media engagement, virtual exchanges, and in-person exchange initiatives.
Dr. Adanech further added that the purpose of the visit was to assess and validate the progress and achievements of the English Access Scholarship Program at AMU, which currently supports selected students from four government schools in Arba Minch Town. She noted that the visit also aimed to facilitate the launch of the program’s second phase, which is set to continue for an additional two years beginning in December 2026.
The RELO team observed classroom sessions and held interactive discussions with students during their learning activities. The visit was attended by AMU senior officials, staff from the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, members of the AMU English Fellow group, assigned instructors, and participating students.
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