Thread by @segenyan

In some countries it is common for students to have what they call a 'Gap Year’ after finishing high-school, in order to help them figure out what they want before college year. This gap year has been forced upon students in #Tigray in all age group and for over three years.1/n

Around February 2022 “Education in emergency” was in effect for Kg-6th grade where the grades was revised to fit a compressed calendar while textbooks and teaching methods remain the same. The overall situation is a critical topic for research in education. 2/n

The program was developed and implemented in the most difficult situation than am narrating here. Children had to go to near zero school facilities, where they had no chair or had to carry one from home. Exercise books and pens were luxury so they had to learn verbally. 3/n

Teachers if they are available weren’t paid as there was no budget or bank system in which they had to stay long hours in empty stomach and travel by foot to work. Parents were not able to pay school fees or send their kids with proper meals.4/n

Lack of fuel made transportation difficult for urban students where most had to walk long distances to schools for the first time. Due to this children had to change schools and join nearby were they didn’t have any prior connection.5/n

Regardless students finished one cycle as per the program and joined the second one till it was again interrupted due to war in August 2022. Note that Grade 7 -12, didn’t even had this chance yet. And let’s not forget the night school students who are neglected the most. 6/n

This gap in education is difficult and a painful experience for all and unbearable since they miss out on their social engagement with their friends. However, some might considered it as advantage as it has given them the liberty to learn and study in a self paced way.7/n

As parents we have been burdened to make sure they are trying to catch-up with their peers else were in the world. It was a responsibility to find alternatives for them to spend their days either in language schools or at the church. Tutorials became common while 8/n

neighborhood play was the number one activity even if it meant building weapon toys at the end of the day🤦🏽‍♀️ In general for those of us who were fortunate enough to spend time with our children, it was a unique opportunity to understand our kids and also a nerve racking one, 9/n

While seeing education for what it is. I have to admit I have the utmost respect for teachers more than ever 😮‍💨. Through this disruption it became clear we need to use the forced gap on our children not to go to waste and is vital to reflect as actors on the system.10/n

Sal Kahn, founder of Khan Academy explains how “Education was in crisis even before Pandemic”. Even if education coverage increased in #Tigray, the quality has been compromised within the 🇪🇹 system and in a deeper crisis way before the war or pandemics. 11/n

Obviously the war had made thing much complicated and devastating for most parts. However, coming out the current crisis should also focus on the need to shift our education to a 21st century Knowledge Age rather than linger on a dying system. 12/n

Bernie & Charles in their book “21st century Skills:Learning for life in our times” press on the need for education must change: to help prepare students to meet complex challenges, fulfill their civic responsibilities, and live fulfilling lives! 13/n

Specifically “they emphasize the need for policy makers and educators to run—not walk—to implement 21st century learning designs as it will gradually overcome all other collective challenges. Now that we are on a transition stage in #Tigray to fully embrace peace and have 14/n

normalcy, we are hearing announcements of schools to reopen back in Tigray. However, I have my concerns if we are going back to an old order which isn’t responsive neither to the crisis nor to fast changing world our children need to prepare for. As my friend puts it 15/n

“ One thing that creates big inequality in the world is education and yet Tigray is fiddling with it. Currently elites/urbanists are provided half baked services so that they feel comfortable and desensitized not to feel the pain of others which should is against our values!”16/n

If we wish to address the concern mentioned, and also the quality of education in #Tigray, innovative methods do exists and entrepreneurs are widely available. A good example from mekelle would be dish-portal.kiu.ac.ug/2023/03/21/dis… 17/n

Khan also elaborates how tools now exist to alleviate the problem and the only thing holding us back is cynicism and lack of awareness. You can read his short article on economist.com/the-world-ahea…. 18/n

Forces which are also resistance for change according to Bernie and Charles are industrial age education policies, standardized testing systems, momentum of decades of direct instruction, educational publishing industry, fear, and the traditional preferences of parents. 19/n

Yet “The best indicator of our government tomorrow is our education today” Peikoff states on the article “Teaching Jonny to Think”. Therefor, our transition ought to make its first and for most mission to make our schools fit for the recovery and beyond, with all actors! 20/n