First posted on X (Twitter) on September 17, 2024
https://x.com/AlMariam1/status/1836054511489798392
๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฒ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ.
Prof. Beyene was a man of extraordinary moral fiber and integrity. He spoke his mind freely, but always with purpose of defending Ethiopian national unity, territorial integrity, political sovereignty and promoting societal peace, tolerance, dialogue and understanding. He had a great sense of spontaneous humor.
In the early months of 2023, Prof. Beyene and I communicated privately on the state of education in Ethiopia. At the time, the Ethiopian Ministry of Education had announced dismal results on student performance on the annual Ethiopian School Leaving Certificate (ESLC) test. In the aftermath of that announcement, beginning on January 24, 2023 (almariam.com), I wrote a 5-part commentary on possible innovations in the Ethiopian educational system that could address some structural and policy issues.
Prof. Beyene engaged me robustly on my ideas. Indeed, he educated me on various critical issues related to the internal mechanics and dynamics of the Ethiopian educational system.
I benefitted greatly from his insights. What impressed me the most about Prof. Beyeneโs ideas on educational reform was his uncompromising emphasis on empirical, evidence/research based and driven educational planning, policy-making and implementation. He felt there was a dearth of such empirical data to guide educators and policymakers. He felt educators and policy makers often reacted reflexively in the face of crises, and in general went about their business stabbing in the dark and flying blind.
Prof. Beyene shared with me not only his ideas but also resources that underscored the need for an empirical approach to educational planning and administration. He shared with me one study that questioned the predictive validity of the Ethiopian School Leaving Certificate (ESLC), published in the Ethiopian Journal of Education in 1992. That study concluded, โESLC is basically a test of secondary school achievement and that its consistent use as a college entrance examination could do more harm than to use the educational activity of the country in general. The University should therefore look for other better alternative tests that could reliably indicate the learnerโs future academic performance.โ
I was very much surprised by that conclusion. It has been said men of integrity, by their very existence, rekindle the belief that human beings can live above the level of moral and intellectual squalor of their time.
Prof. Beyene Petros shall live on as a man and as an example of moral and intellectual integrity for all Ethiopians, and especially to aspiring young Ethiopian intellectuals. May Prof. Beyene Petros rest in peace.
Deep condolences to Prof. Beyene’s family, friends and colleagues.
