ERTA becomes EBC, makes 110 percent salary increment

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Addis Ababa Science and Technology University and the Adama Science and Technology University will be under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), according to a new bill endorsed by the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR). The two institutions were under the Ministry of Education (MoE).

In what was said to be a model driven from South Korean and Brazilian developmental state, Adama and Addis Ababa Science and Technology Universities were expected to put special emphasis on producing qualified manpower to actively assist the industry sector. However, due to their nature of structural arrangements and procedural problems, they did not live up to the expectations demanded, according the document attached with the draft law provided to the Houses to amend the Higher Education Proclamation.

Both the ministry and the universities shared the same objective for improving the knowledge of science and technology as well as to left knowledge to center of excellences along with helping the country’s economical and social development become implemented with knowledge.
It was also said that taking the science and technology universities under MoST will support the institution in carrying out their responsibilities together so that they can contribute to a unified mission.

In the same session, the House approved the bill that proposed elevating the Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency to a corporation status. According to the endorsed bill, the agency will be named the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.

The country’s sole television operator and state owned broadcaster was given corporation status to help upgrade its service and compete with modern technology and efficient services like other developed nations’ media services.

It was also noted that the new bill would help the institution better enjoy editorial freedom, which will enable it to implement its public responsibilities..

In a related development, The Reporter has learnt that ERTA has raised the salaries of its entire staff, sources said up to 100 to 110 percent.

The salary increment step has coincidently come at the same time the Federal government declared the wage increments of civil servants across the nation.

According to sources approached by The Reporter, ERTA’s move to elevate its employees wages might be attributed to the agency’s longstanding brain drainage they have been facing for a long time.

Recently, Redwan Hussien, the Head of Office of the Government Communication Affairs with a Minister’s portfolio, who is also the Board Chairman of ERTA told parliament that the salary rate was one of the critical challenges that hit ERTA with a brain drain.

Source: The Reporter