The institute, housed in the college, had already been operational since October 2009, teaching Chinese languages to 250 technical and vocational students and teachers. The college, which rests on 23,000sqm, was constructed by SOGECOA, a Chinese company, over five years starting in 2005.
It includes six two-story buildings which have 53 classrooms, five computer labs, 53 workshops, 50 offices, one library, one reading room and one multifunctional hall. Constructing and equipping of the building has cost 14 million dollars, so far. The college equipment, which is going to be used in its departments of computer science, electricity, electronics, automotive, mechanical, textile and garment, was imported from China.
Before the language school was opened, Ethiopian teachers at the college, who went to China for training, spent the first six months studying the language. Now the language will be given at the Confucius Institute not only for the teachers but also for interested students.
Currently Chinese language and technology teachers at the college are paid 1,200 dollars per month by the Ethiopian government. The government plans to provide locally trained Ethiopians with the technological training that is now being given in China, according to Wondwossen Kiflu state minister of education.
At the inauguration ceremony, Li Weihong, Chinese deputy minister of education, donated 40 pieces of furniture for the language laboratory and 3,300 books for the library.
The college is assisted by Tianjin University of Technology and Education, according to Zhai Fengjie, director if the Confucius Institute.
Currently, it has 380 students. The education is currently given free, but there will soon be a cost sharing scheme, Brehanemeskel Kebede, vice dean of the college and deputy director of the institute, said.
The college is the only polytechnic school in Ethiopia, which gives level five technical and technological courses to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) students. It expects to eventually take up to 3,000 students when at full capacity.
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