Germany vows to continue support to Ethiopia’s TVET sector to include refugees

The German Development Cooperation with partners commemorates World Refugee Day at the Nefas Silk Polytechnic College which is the first public vocational institution to include refugees in Ethiopia.

German Embassy in Addis Ababa, the German International Development Cooperation (GIZ), the Ministry of Labour and Skills, the Refugee and Returnee Services (RSS), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other stakeholders celebrated World Refugee Day at Nefas Silk Polytechnic College.

Nefas Silk College became the first public vocational college to bring refugees and Ethiopians together to learn in one vocational school with the support of the German Cooperation, according to EPA.

On the occasion, GIZ reiterates German Government’s support to Ethiopia’s vision to strengthen vocational training and create job opportunities for refugees and Ethiopians.

Accordingly, Ethiopia is home to more than 860,000 refugees, making it the third-largest refugee-hosting country in Africa. Despite having its own challenges, Ethiopia expands refugees’ rights to access education, health, employment and other public basic services.

The support includes financing of business ideas of refugees and Ethiopians growing out of the Entrepreneurship Centre at Nefas Silk College and technical advice to vocational colleges to set up the necessary institutional structure for an inclusive and market-driven training provision.

Nefas Silk College serves as a role model for refugee inclusion in TVET. So far, 600 refugees and Ethiopians graduated in sectors ranging from food preparation and auto mechanics to textile and garment. Another five TVET colleges in Addis Ababa have taken up the inclusive approach.

The Programme supports the further training of trainers, labour market-driven revision of curriculum and the establishment of partnerships between TVET colleges and companies. To-date, more than 3,300 Ethiopians and refugees have gained job opportunities in Addis Ababa, Benishangul-Gumuz, Somali and Gambella states.