Education Department


Mr. Abdisa Tirfessa Olana
Education Department
Director


Western Ethiopia Union Mission Education Department Theme

The theme of the Western Ethiopia Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventist Church Department of Education is “every Adventist teacher an evangelist, and every Adventist school the House of God and the gate of heaven.” It seeks to provide quality Adventist education and training for development and nurture to all youth and employees of the Church as well as others who desire to study in a Christian atmosphere through Adventist institutions. The education and training provided covers all areas of development, including the spiritual, the mental, the physical and the social dimensions of life. The department endeavors to train those willing to become qualified employees of the Adventist church for the carrying out of the Gospel commission. The WEUM Department of Education oversees the largest network of Adventist schools in the Western Ethiopia Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventist Church territory.

The Union has one collage, Two High Schools, Five Elementary and Five Kindergarten Schools. These schools have an enrolment of 5, 955 students and 145 teachers.

High Schools

  • Gimbie Adventist High School
  • Wollega Adventist Academy

Elementary Schools

  • Dambi Dollo Adventist Elementary School
  • Gimbi Adventist Elementary School
  • Nekemte Adventist Elementary School
  • Bako Adventist Elementary School
  • Gambella Adventist Elementary School

Kindergarten Schools

  • Nekemte Adventist Kindergarten School
  • Bako Adventist Kindergarten School
  • Gimbi Adventist Kindergarten School
  • Jimma Adventist Kindergarten School
  • Gambella Adventist Kindergarten School.

 

Seventh-day Adventist Philosophy of Education

Premises—Seventh-day Adventists, within the context of their basic beliefs, acknowledge that:
1. God is the Creator and sustainer of the entire universe—animate and inanimate.
2. God created perfect human beings in His own image with power to think, to choose, and to do.
3. God is the source of all that is true, good, and beautiful, and has chosen to reveal Himself to humankind.
4. Humans, by their own choice, rebelled against God and fell into a state of sin that has separated them from God and each other, affecting the entire planet and plunging it into the cosmic conflict between good and evil. In spite of this, the world and human beings still reveal, albeit dimly, the goodness and beauty of their original condition.
5. The Godhead met the problem of sin through the plan of redemption. This plan aims to restore human beings to God’s image and the universe back to its original state of perfection, love, and harmony.
6. God invites us to choose His plan of restoration and to relate to this world creatively and responsibly until He intervenes in history to bring forth the new heavens and the new earth that is promised in His Word.
Philosophy

The Seventh-day Adventist philosophy of education is Christ-centered. Adventists believe that, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God’s character and purposes can be understood as revealed in the Bible, in Jesus Christ, and in nature. The distinctive characteristics of Adventist education— derived from the Bible and the writings of Ellen G White—point to the redemptive aim of true education: to restore human beings into the image of their Maker. Seventh-day Adventists believe that God is infinitely loving, wise, and powerful. He relates to human beings on a personal level, presenting His character as the ultimate norm for human conduct and His grace as the means of restoration. Adventists recognize that human motives, thinking, and behavior have fallen short of God’s ideal. Education, in its broadest sense, is a means of restoring human beings to their original relationship with God. Working together, homes, schools, and churches cooperate with divine agencies in preparing learners for responsible citizenship in this world and in the world-to-come. Adventist education imparts more than academic knowledge. It fosters a balanced development of the whole person—spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially. Its time dimensions span eternity. It seeks to develop a life of faith in God and respect for the dignity of all human beings; to build character akin to that of the Creator, to nurture thinkers rather than mere reflectors of others’ thoughts; to promote loving service rather than selfish ambition; to ensure maximum development of each individual’s potential; and to embrace all that is true, good, and beautiful.
Aim and Mission—Adventist education prepares people for useful and joy-filled lives, fostering friendships with God, whole-person development, Bible-based values, and selfless service in accordance with the Seventh-day Adventist mission to the world. West

Objectives of Seventh – day Adventist Education
Western Ethiopia Union Mission Department of Education Purpose—

The West Ethiopia Union Mission Department of Education has been entrusted with the overall responsibility of coordinating and supervising the Union’s education system. The department is headed by a Director and Associate Directors (where necessary). The Director is answerable to the Union President and the Executive Committee. Working through such administrative authority as is delegated to the various levels, the Department of Education fosters the Seventh-day Adventist mission and teachings and the preservation of the Church’s heritage through its educational agencies. The department executes the following functions:

  • Promote and nurture the Seventh-day Adventist educational philosophy and objectives.
  • Assist the Division Board of education in developing a comprehensive long-range master plan for the Division educational system.
  • Determine and encourage the maintenance of appropriate standards at all levels of the Division’s educational system, including the certification of educational personnel.
  • Consult in the development of the educational budget.
  • Conduct entire the union meetings for the strengthening of Seventh-day Adventist education.
  • Coordinate the development of textbooks, guides, teaching aids manuals, summaries, and other materials as may be requested and as financially feasible.
  • Recommend to the International Board of Education the establishment of new post-secondary institutional programs.
  • Approve the establishment of, accredit, and evaluate secondary schools or school systems through the Division Board of Education.
  • Assist the Division Executive Committee in the selection of personnel for positions in the educational system through the maintenance of a professional registry.
  • Provide advice in educational matters to the conferences/fields/unions as well as institutions.
  • Cooperate with other departments and services in the faith nurture of Seventh – day Adventist College and university students attending both denominational and non-denominational institutions of learning.
  • Monitor working conditions of educational employees with respect to denominational policies and health standards.
  • Promote the “Journal of Adventist Education,” the “Home and School,” and other publications as may be necessary for the advancement of Seventh-day Adventist Education.
  • Grant approval of academic sessions and tours involving denominational institutions across conference/field/union boundaries.
  • Prepare and make available analytical reports of the denominational education program.
  • Maintain liaison with governments and international agencies in order to keep abreast of laws, regulations, and trends relating to private and church-related educational institutions.
  • Serve as a clearinghouse for educational information, trends, and new developments.