Hawassa Polytechnic College is currently working to establish itself as a centre of excellence in Textile and Garment Technology, as part of the East African Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP).
The project seeks to increase access to Technical and Vocational Education and Training) programmes that are aligned with market demands. To support this goal, the EASTRIP Project at the college level, allocated over 80% of its budget to constructing essential training facilities and acquiring relevant machinery.
Construction of the TVET centre of excellence began on July 22, 2022, with a budget of 616,196,977.00 Ethiopian Birr (approximately 11.59 million USD). The project is being developed on a 6-hectare plot of land and includes multiple facilities: a learning factory, a G+5 dormitory for 360 trainees, a G+2 cafeteria and kitchen, a G+4 library, three storage buildings, and a perimeter fence.
As it stands, the construction is roughly 59.59% complete. Progress in the construction of specific facilities includes the learning factory at 53.74%, the dormitory at 61.6%, the library at 61.85%, the cafeteria at 70.03%, the fence at 59.22%, and the storage buildings at 68.95%.
The EASTRIP project is supporting Hawassa Polytechnic College to improve the quality and availability of technical education at the College, helping the institution become a recognized hub for textile and garment technology education.
By Biruk Kassahun, M&E Specialist at Hawassa Polytechnic College
