Physics around the world: IOP teacher training programme in Ethiopia

Retired Industrial Physicist Dr Bill Poole describes how on-going visits to Addis Ababa are developing the project to train Ethiopian teachers:

In 2008 the IOP’s International Development Committee under the direction of the Institute’s international relations manager, Dipali Chauhan, supported a physics teacher-training programme in Addis Ababa. Since then, a second training session for a further 10 teachers has been planned and will take place during July 2010.

In the meantime, six redundant laptop computers were donated by the Institute for the project and these were taken to Addis Ababa during a visit at Easter 2010. The longer-term intention is to set up a workshop and information centre where teachers will be able to receive training, access the internet, use information resources and where equipment will be manufactured and distributed to schools. 

The Ethiopian Ministry of Education is in the process of identifying a suitable building for the workshop and information centre.  Until the workshop space becomes available, the laptops are set up in an information room adjacent to a library. Steve Driscoll, an independent IT consultant in Derby, set up the laptops with appropriate software as a donation to the project and the Ethiopian physics curriculum teaching aids were added during the visit. Also added was the “Teaching Physics in Remote Places” programme developed by Joe Brock, IOP co-ordinator in Tanzania.

The Institute’s contribution to the development of practical physics for schools in Ethiopia continues to be greatly appreciated by the teachers and by staff at the Ministry of Education.