News

Inspiring Stars Exhibition and Inclusion Workshop gather more than 200 participants

on January 03, 2019

by Alemiye Mamo Yacob

On January 3, 2019, the ‘Inspiring Stars Exhibition and Inclusion Workshop ‘, part of one of the IAU100 celebrations global projects, took place and was successfully concluded at the Kotebe Metropolitan University (KMU), Addis Ababa Ethiopia and organised by EA-ROAD, ESSTI, KMU, ESSS, ESAN and EEWB2018.

Around 200 participants attended the events, coming from Ethiopian National Blind Associations (ENBA), Menilik secondary school grade 11 & 12 students with sight and hearing impairments, from Kotebe Metropolitan University (KMU) particularly from special need education, and others from Ethiopian Space Science Technology Institute and individuals coming from social media advertisement.

Dr Domeze vice-president of KMU officially opened the exhibition and workshop. In his keynote speech, he mentioned that he was impressed by the activities organised and confirmed that KMU will support such actions and plan to work more in future. The second keynote speaker, Dr Abebe from ESAN, made a remarkable opening that inspired all present. The last speaker, Mr Alemiye, from EA-ROAD, explained the main objectives of the Inspiring Stars exhibition and activities related to IAU-100 celebrations.

He mentioned that inclusion is clearly stated in the goal 2 of IAU 2020-2030 strategic plan as the main agenda of IAU, thus he asserted that organizing inspiring stars exhibition in Ethiopia and all over the world is the sign of IAU’s commitment in promoting inclusiveness in the advancement of astronomy in every country.

In inclusion workshop the general practices of inclusion in the world, and in Ethiopia particularly in natural science and astronomy were presented by Dr. Gezahgn, head of special need education department at KMU, as discussion point and panel discussion was made up on the presentation. The current status of special need education in Ethiopia, the existing challenges and the way forward were clearly addressed during the panel discussion.

The following are some of the discussion points that had been reflected during discussion. It was mentioned that Ethiopia has education policy that entertains inclusiveness. There were initiations of establishing Adaptive Technology Center for Blind(ATCB) and brain production in some universities and colleges who offer special need education and at Ethiopian national blind association. However there are a lot of challenges and problems that need serious attention and will be solved with participation of all stake holders starting from the government up to individual levels. Some of the existing problems raised during the discussion were attitudinal problem towards people with disability and awareness problem which should be overcome by developing inclusive culture. Though there is education policy that address inclusiveness, the curriculum are not in line with the need of special education, it should be modified and there should be disability educational act that assert whether the laws are implemented or not. There is lack of physical infrastructures that suite for peoples with disability; there is also few and limited adaptive assistive technologies and trainers as well as limitation in catch-up with advancement of adaptive technology. There is also very few teachers who trained and teach sign language, and library with appropriate books.

In the panel discussion, participants and concerned stakeholder put the way forward what to do in near future among the suggested points such as

- Resource people that is professional in the special need education should be searched and shared their experiences and should give training for the trainers

- The educational curriculum should be modified and the enforcement of inclusive education policy should be in act.

- Existing resources should be used optimally

- Initiatives such as ‘inspiring stars’ should be continued and other awareness creation workshop should be conducted

- Small groups and or network should be formed to create connection globally and work together in for betterment of inclusive education.

- Role models like Dr. Wanda and Dr. Tameru should be taken as resource people to give training and use their connection in expansion of inclusive initiation in Ethiopia in larger scale

Finally the organizers, asserted that the Inspiring Stars Exhibitions will be carried out along with IAU-100 years celebration which will be conducted throughout the year in Ethiopia.

by Alemiye Mamo Yacob

1.International Relation Director, Ethiopian Space Science & Technology Institute (ESSTI)

2. Director, East Africa Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (EAf-ROAD),

Email: alemiyem@essti.gov.et

Addis Ababa , Ethiopia