On 28 July 2025, Wollega University officially signed a cooperation (partnership) agreement with the Naqamte and Shambu Colleges of Teacher Education.
During the signing ceremony, Dr. Tesfaye Lemma, President of Wollega University, delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of collaboration among institutions and stakeholders in fostering national development and building a capable generation. He noted that achieving the university’s vision and mission requires creating strong partnerships with key players in the education sector.
Dr. Tesfaye highlighted the challenges facing education quality across the country, especially in the three Wollega zones where the university operates. He emphasized the importance of working closely with the Naqamte and Shambu teacher training colleges to address these issues.
Recalling the historical contributions of Wollega in producing renowned scholars in various fields, he expressed concern about the declining performance of the current generation. Dr. Tesfaye stressed that meaningful change in the education sector must start from the grassroots level. He also pointed out many potential areas of collaboration between Wollega University and the two colleges, particularly in aligning their efforts and goals.
He outlined several joint initiatives such as:
Providing community-based training to enhance the capacity of teachers and school leaders.
Conducting practical and scientific research to propose solutions for challenges in education quality.
Revising and improving the education system.
Supporting outstanding students in fields like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Dr. Fiqiru Gurmu, Dean of the Shambu College of Teacher Education, and Mr. Tekalign Namara, Dean of the Naqamte College of Teacher Education, expressed that the partnership will significantly help their institutions in preparing well-qualified teachers and delivering high-quality training. They emphasized that the collaboration with Wollega University plays a vital role in addressing the current decline in education quality.
Dr. Tefera Fayisa, Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Wollega University, stated that there had already been informal collaboration with these colleges. He noted that this formal agreement would strengthen their existing relationship and enhance their cooperative efforts.
He also referred to recent grade 8 national exam results, showing that the performance of students in the Wollega zones was alarmingly low, contrasting with the region’s historical contributions to education. He affirmed their commitment to working collaboratively by pooling human and material resources from both the university and the colleges.
In conclusion, Dr. Tesfaye Lemma, in his capacity as both University President and Chair of the Board overseeing these colleges, directed that this partnership be incorporated into the 2025 annual plan. He emphasized that it should lead to practical actions and serve as a basis for monitoring and evaluation efforts.
