On March 19th 2011 LCD Ethiopia and the Wolaita Zone Education Department co-hosted the second 'Woreda School Improvement Conference' at the Tona Shopping Centre in Soddo town, Wolaita Zone. During the day, the learner test results and rankings against the Ministry of Education’s School Improvement Programme indicators that were collected and analysed during 2010 were presented. Stakeholders also showcased the plans developed to address the weaknesses identified through the data collection.
Attendance was high, at over 300 participants, and as with our first conference, this was a great opportunity to share our project innovations with all woredas in Wolaita Zone. There were two very lively participant discussions and a particular focus on girl student performance vis-à-vis their male counterparts. The Wolaita Zone Education Head and the Wolaita Zone Administrator fully endorsed LCD’s work, and we were delighted to also welcome representatives from the Regional Education Bureau and the Regional Finance Bureau in Awassa. The genuine interest in our support to SIP across Wolaita as well as the endorsements at regional level bode well for our future here in SNNPRS.
During the conference four motorbikes were officially donated by LCD Ethiopia to our new phase two woredas – two each for Damot Pulasa and Damot Sore woredas. The motorbikes aim to improve the mobility of cluster supervisors as the key line of management and support from woreda education offices to schools.
