Eritrea’s Southern Region Forges Ahead with Ambitious Early Education Expansion, Doubling Access

In a significant stride towards strengthening foundational learning, Eritrea’s Southern Region is rapidly expanding its pre-primary and elementary school infrastructure. A recent conference held on July 11 in Mendefera brought together sub-zone administrators and heads of educational facilities to strategize and galvanize efforts, signaling a clear commitment to ensuring comprehensive access to education for young children across the region.

Governor Habteab Tesfatsion emphasized the pivotal role of community and regional collaboration in this ambitious undertaking. “Strong efforts will be exerted to construct pre-school educational facilities through initiatives at the regional and community levels, aimed at enhancing the teaching-learning process,” Governor Tesfatsion stated. He further revealed that the regional administration, working hand-in-hand with area administrators, has already prepared suitable land for the construction of these vital new school facilities, bringing education closer to children’s homes.

The progress achieved in the past year underscores the accelerated pace of this expansion. Mr. Hibtzgi Kidane, head of the education office in the Southern Region, highlighted remarkable growth: “Over the past 10 years, the number of pre-schools stood at 131, with about 12,000 students.” He then contrasted this with recent achievements, noting that “through the efforts exerted last year, new pre-schools have been established in 416 villages and the number of students had increased twofold.” This dramatic increase demonstrates a robust drive to overcome educational access barriers, especially in rural areas.

With 1,106 schools currently providing educational services from pre-primary to high school levels across the Southern Region, the focus on early education is a strategic investment in the nation’s future. Participants at the Mendefera conference engaged in extensive discussions on program implementation, collectively calling for available resources to be effectively channeled towards these expansion efforts. Complementing these infrastructure and access initiatives, Mr. Qaleab Tesfaselasie, Director General of Social Services in the region, issued a direct appeal to parents, urging them “to send their school-age children to school and take advantage of the opportunities being provided.”

This concerted push by Eritrean authorities, bolstered by community engagement and a clear vision, positions the Southern Region to significantly enhance its human capital and foster long-term socio-economic development through widespread access to quality early childhood and elementary education.