OEC reveals intention to set up headquarters in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, June 1, 2022 (FBC) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Demeke Mekonnen received the Secretary-General of the Organization of Educational Cooperation (OEC), Sheikh Manssour Bin Mussallam at his office.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke told the OEC Secretary-General that the educational development is one of the sectors much prioritized by the government.

Demeke said Ethiopia appropriates 20pct of annual budget for the education sector, adding that the government has registered remarkable results in increasing coverage and access of education despite the challenges in quality assurance.

A wide range of activities are underway to improve quality of education, he said, stressing need to forge partnership with international partners to address the bottlenecks in the sector.

Sheikh Manssour Bin Mussallam, on his part, said OEC works closely with relevant bodies to improve quality and ensure inclusivity of education, and make knowledge the driving force for social development.

He further called on the Ethiopian government to scale up its role in the organization by allowing moves to set up the seat of the Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

He said Addis Ababa is the seat of various diplomatic centers and international organizations making it ideal to make it the seat of OEC too.

The Organization of Educational Cooperation was founded in 2020 and the OEC aims to engage systemically with the human, local, national and planetary dimensions of education.