Dear Aigas,

I wouldn’t dare to cover issues concerning the several reform programs, the education sector and the real causes of the defection in this short email but I thought it is necessary to reflect on some of them. Yes change is good but it should be for something better! We can not afford using archaic systems in our institutions given the urgency to alleviate poverty and accelerate development and hence the need for change is not controversial in itself. Reform is underway in several sectors at federal and state level but and the big BUT are are those reforms going as intended and as planned in light of the goals? Take the civil service reform program, like it or not it failed two times and in some gov't sectors they have now started a third round of refresher training.

 How long is this going to continue and at what cost, I have no clue. Either it doesn’t seem to work or has fallen into the wrong hands! Apart from that it is no surprise to see in some institutions the reform being used as a tool to silence the competent ones or to promote some cronies.

There is a lot of success story in the education sector but as latest indicators hint we might be a victim of our own success. First and foremost, in as much as education at all levels needs expansion, there must also be vibrant economy, public and private that is ready to absorb the graduate. It is now becoming common to see one or two graduates in a family sitting at home. Lucky ones from wealthy family have started to open small family business. Secondly, the huge number of first year students now waiting admission have no ready buildings for classes and rooms to stay despite the much talked preparation in several of the new Universities. I am afraid as some say it is becoming "Ekid Doro, Afesasem shiro." What is its implication in terms of quality? That needs an empirical study.

Aron Tes