Click here to view photographs of the orientation.

On 20 March 2009, Euclid University (an intergovernmental educational framework for sustainable development) held its first orientation-workshop in Asmara, Eritrea for the 2-year distance-study program of the Ministry of Education (MOE) as part of Eritrea's educational sector development program funded by the European Commission. The project is managed by B&S, a consultancy firm based in Brussels since 1991, which provides technical assistance services to companies and public organizations.

EUCLID's High Steward, H.E. Ambassador Banny deBrum, led the Euclid delegation and delivered the welcome address. Keynote speakers at the orientation include the Honorable Semere Rusom (Minister of Education), the Honorable Petros Hailemariam (Director General, RHRD), Dr. Ghebrebrhan Ogbazghi (Vice President, Eritrea Institute of Technology), and Mr. Tedros Sium (Director, HRD).

The 2-year distance-study academic programs focus on teacher training designed to answer the pressing need of the education system reform by the Government of the State of Eritrea. The programs are designed to upgrade teachers' knowledge and skills in order to strengthen the efficiency and quality of their responsibilities, and to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Education.

The Education Sector Development Distance Study program is expected to produce nine (9) curriculum developers and language planners upgraded to Post-graduate levels (5 PGD and 4 Master’s) in areas of linguistics; twenty-nine (29) teacher educators serving at the regional level and twenty (20) teacher educators at ATEI upgraded to Under and Post Graduate levels respectively; two (2) Media Education officers upgraded to Master’s level and three (3) to Diploma level. The special 2-year distance degree programs will jointly conferred by Euclid University and the University of NDjamena (Republic of Chad), a full member of the International Association of Universities - a sure sign of its international recognition and of its commitment to become a respected center of expertise in the field of Sustainable Development.

The majority of the instructors at Asmara Teacher Education Institute (ATEI) are dedicated, conscientious, and hard-working staff members who have been working in the Ministry for quite a long time. The opportunity to provide professional development programs for these teachers and trainers will not only promote the efficiency and quality of the Institute, but as well as the personal and professional development of the participating teachers at the MOE..

EUCLID Deputy Secretary-General and Euclid University Principal Prof. Vince Sinning established the Euclid School for Educational Development to provide the special needs of Ministries of Education. The State of Eritrea is EUCLID's first special project funded by the European Commission. Prof. Sinning began the intensive research and preparations for the project in January 2009 with his assistant Mr. Chad D'Amore who assumed the full time post of Project Manager. Ms. Yvonne Kriesch, a psychology major student from Vienna, Austria, joined the team as Project Coordinator. Mr. D'Amore led the orientation-workshop in Asmara with Ms. Kriesch. The EUCLID delegation arrived in Asmara on 18 March and returned back to Washington, DC on 22 March. More workshops are scheduled to take place in Asmara until December 2010.

Click here to view photographs of the orientation.