Historical & Current Perspectives

Introduction

Ambo had been among the very few pioneers, in Ethiopia, in the modern education arena. The formal modern education had started in the premises of the current Ambo Agricultural College. What had started as elementary education in this compound had moved to the current Ethiopian Hotel. In subsequent years, a new building was constructed upon the order of the Emperor, and the School moved onto this building in 1955, maintaining it’s previously given name, "Maarege Hiwot Haile Selassie I Secondary School."

This school, known by different names, at different historical periods, was receiving students not only from the districts of the then Jibat and Mecha awraja but also from the neighboring awraja ; as a sole educational center, in the area. This school is famous in cultivating a number of citizens who later joined various institutions of higher learning in the country as well as abroad. The success stories and capacities of those, who joined higher learning institutions to withstand the rigors of education at this level, have witnessed the strong role of this School in the educational system of the country.

The graduates of the School, have been great scholars and top notch experts in various scientific, social and economic disciplines, and have been making immense contributions, to the development of Ethiopia, Africa and the world at large.

The Ambo Senior Secondary School, whose torch of modern education was lit at the onset of the 20 th Century, has now expanded far beyond its original mandates of providing academic and vocational training to junior secondary and secondary level education. Accordingly as per the new curriculum of educational policy of the country, Ambo high school is bestowed with additional responsibility of nurturing those who have successfully passed grade 10 in preparation for tertiary level education.

Currently the School is making preparations to colorfully celebrate its 50 th Golden Jubilee in 2005. At this juncture, however, the school is in the state of serious and multifaceted problems which call for attention. It is quite unfortunate to see this school into individual, community and country's development. It is important to mention the challenges the school is surviving with. The educational facilities such as library, laboratory rooms and equipment that were put in place to cater for about 1,000 students about 50 years back remained to serve over 6,000 students, with out much difference.

In recognition of the aforementioned compounded problems, former students of the school have organized a sub-committee in Addis Ababa under the main committee at Ambo level to celebrate the Golden Juilee with key objectives of addressing some of the problems. This Committee, which is known as the Addis Ababa & International Relations Committee, envisions mobilizing support from former students from within and out of the country and supporters of the objective.

Major Constraints of the School

 1. Library

 The library, which was meant to serve much less than 1,000 students and 50 of them at a time upon its establishment, is currently serving over 6,000 students. Both in terms of its physical condition and content the library is far beyond what is considered as a standard school library of the size and responsibility. The books and all other reference materials are, not only very old and outdated but also very inadequate compared to the number of students. With such clear shortcomings, it is utterly difficult to call it a library, per se.

2. Laboratory

 As mentioned earlier, the school is entrusted with the responsibility of both academic as well as vocational education and preparing students for higher training institutions. However, the state of laboratory facilities including equipment is very saddening, to say the least. The physics, biology and chemistry laboratories were built close to fifty years back and the equipment are also obsolete by today's standard. As a result, the laboratories couldn't meet the requirements of modern standards, and are far behind technological advances of the millennium. The paradox however is that the school had to prepare students for higher training institutions without having the minimum physical facilities and necessary equipment at hand.

 3. Class Rooms

 Owing to the shortage of class rooms, about 90 children will have to be stuffed in a class room; and most heart-breaking of all, about 1,800 children have to be sent back every year for lack of space.

4. Modern Technology & the School

If we contemplate for a while, to understand the level of advancement that modern education has reached in the millennium, we will surely understand the immense contributions that technology has made towards this success. Like wise, it is very evident that education and research, in turn, played a pivotal role for the development of modern technology. The Ambo Senior Secondary School, in its present state, can neither foster the advancement of modern technology nor benefit from the current state of technology. At present the students in the school do not have access to computers, the least for appreciating the state of the art, let alone using it and experimenting with it.

5. Expectations from potential supporters

 In connection to its celebration of the 50 th Golden Jubilee Anniversary, this famous school is loudly calling for help to its former students and all those who have the desire to contribute to the effort towards alleviating some of its acute problems. The school hopes the reputation and the prestige it used to enjoy in the good-old-days would be reinstated, through the joint and relentless effort of its former students and the cooperation and kind assistance to be pledged by its supporters.

In an effort to come up with immediate need of the school, studies have been conducted and finally a project document was prepared. The ultimate plan is to construct a one story building, with the cost of 10 million birr. If every thing goes per plan the building would be completed and put to use by early 2005.

To this effect, the Addis Ababa & International Relation Committees have made the necessary arrangement for receiving donation both in cash and kind. The cash donation could be made by making deposits in the account opened at the Selassie Branch of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, located at Arat Killo, in the name of Ambo Senior Secondary School, C/Ac. No. 90232, or at the Ambo Branch of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, C/Ac. NO. 1300.

The Committee would also welcome donations in kind, such as computers, laboratory equipment, text books, desks and construction materials, etc.

There would also be series of fund raising events in which your active participations is highly appreciated.

Please be reminded that small drops of water can make an ocean.

The Committee

E-mail: Amboschool50thyears@telecom.net.et