KEYIR NEWS - A high-level Ethiopian delegation led by Minister of Education Professor Berhanu Nega took part in the International Education Conference held in Santiago, Chile, where global leaders gathered to accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all by 2030.
The conference, chaired by Chilean President Gabriel Boric and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, brought together education ministers, international agencies, and senior representatives of the Sherpa Group. Ethiopia and Côte d’Ivoire were the two African countries represented at the forum.
In his address, Professor Berhanu emphasized that developing countries face significant challenges in meeting education-related targets.
“Much work is expected to be done in all countries, especially in developing nations, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of Education by 2030,” he said.
He urged African nations to move away from dependency on dwindling foreign aid and instead focus on collective efforts and community-driven solutions.
“African countries should work together to overcome their challenges and achieve sustainable development and growth by coordinating their communities,” the Minister stated.
Professor Berhanu also highlighted Ethiopia’s ongoing initiatives, including the Education for All Generations School Infrastructure Improvement Movement, pre-primary education expansion, new school construction, and nationwide school feeding programs.
Alongside the main conference, the Ethiopian delegation also participated in the World Conference on Teachers, a parallel forum that focused on strengthening the teaching profession globally.
The Santiago conference reaffirmed the urgency of accelerating educational reforms and investments to ensure no child is left behind in the global pursuit of SDG 4.