Promoting Quality Education through Experience Sharing
One of the effective approaches to improving education quality is school-to-school experience sharing. Recognizing this, Kelem Ethiopia, through its Education Quality Improvement Project (EQUIP), organized experience-sharing visits to all supported 12 schools to enable school administrators, school communities, and education professionals to learn from proven best practices.
Bearing this in mind, Kelem Ethiopia successfully conducted an experience-sharing visit to Memher Akalewold School (public secondary school) and Lij Iyasu Academy (private school) in Dessie. The visit brought together school leaders, cluster supervisors, and education professionals from Kalu Woreda, Kombolcha City Administration, and the South Wollo Zone Education Department.
Objectives of the Visit
The visit aimed to facilitate the exchange of successful teaching practices, highlight effective leadership and school management approaches, and strengthen collaboration among educational institutions.
During the visit, participants observed a range of outcome-oriented initiatives that have contributed to improved student performance and overall education quality.
Key Lessons Learned
- Strong parent–school partnerships
- Effective information and data management
- Positive student behavior and discipline
- Fostering responsibility and cooperation within the school community
These approaches were widely acknowledged as key contributors to improved learning outcomes and sustainable school performance.
These approaches were widely acknowledged as key contributors to improved learning outcomes and sustainable school performance.
Spotlight on Ljij Iyasu Academy
One of the host schools, Ljij Iyasu Academy, is a private school located in Dessie. The academy serves more than 600 students, supported by 28 teachers, 8 assistant teachers, 32 administrative staff, and one health professional dedicated to students’ well-being. The school operates with 16 classrooms and 5 laboratories, providing a conducive learning environment.
The academy achieved a 100% pass rate, with zero dropout and failure rates, and has received two consecutive first-place awards in Dessie town. The school is particularly recognized for its student-centered teaching methodology and strong academic performance at the secondary school level.
Voices from the Participants
Reflecting on the visit, one education leader shared:
“Ljij Iyasu Academy’s success is the result of strong teamwork, the availability of essential learning inputs, high student ethics, a solution-oriented and student-centered teaching approach, and a robust monitoring and evaluation system.”
Another visitor said, “I have seen a good experience in the laboratory. The school is very good at supervision and supporting grade 12 students.”
Sharing Best Practices among the schools
In addition to learning from the host schools, participants shared their own best practices. Participants highlighted the positive impact of Kelem Ethiopia’s support through its EQUIP project in contributing to education quality, peer-to-peer training initiatives, and tutorial classes for students, which were noted for improving student competitiveness and academic results compared to previous years. Support provided through library supplementary books has helped students strengthen their reading habits and study skills.
Furthermore, teacher training programs implemented by Kelem Ethiopia were recognized for boosting teacher morale and delivering tangible improvements at the classroom level.
Inspiring Change and Continuous Improvement
The experience-sharing visit inspired school leaders and education experts to introduce and implement similar best practices in their own institutions. Participants expressed strong appreciation to Kelem Ethiopia for facilitating this valuable platform for collaboration, professional learning, and continuous improvement in education quality.
A recent report showed that school leadership capacity has been significantly strengthened through structured benchmarking and experience-sharing visits. A total of 71 participants, including school leaders, supervisors, and education officials, engaged in peer learning with high-performing schools.
Through these visits, participants gained valuable practical insights into instructional leadership, internal quality assurance, effective resource management, and student-centered support systems. This hands-on exposure not only enhanced their technical understanding but also reinforced their commitment to driving continuous improvement within their own schools.
As a result, school leadership is increasingly recognized as a critical pillar for achieving sustainable and long-term improvements in education quality.
Author:- Hassina Ousman
