Arba Minch University has opened the School of Pedagogical and Behavioral Sciences (SPBS) in the academic year (2013-14). AMU Senate’s nod for the same came in June 2014 following Ministry of Education’s approval to begin Post-Graduate Diploma in Teaching (PGDT) program, informed Director of School of Graduate Studies, Dr Anto Arkato.

Dr Anto further informed that Ministry of Education has started PGDT in the country around 2010, wherein about 10 universities, except AMU, were allowed to run it as summer program.

Due to this, many teachers in the surrounding areas would move to other universities for summer courses incurring huge monetary and time loss. This prompted us to design a proposal justifying its urgent need and it was submitted to the Ministry in the month of March 2014.

After due consideration the Ministry has accorded its approval to PGDT program. And close on its heel came AMU Senate’s nod to start SPBS at Chamo Campus including PGDT program as one of its main components.

The program is meant to produce professional teachers for secondary schools through both summer and regular modes. It will take one-year (2 semesters) on the regular basis and three semesters in summer. As its beginning batch, school has trained more 350 students during the summer of 2013-14; and it’s ready to admit over 500 students on regular basis for 2014-15 academic year.

Both SPBS and PGDT program will contribute towards the development of AMU and the community. PGDT would attract competent teachers and professionals who wish to get involved in various educational activities of the university.

The School will render services to 8 weredas of South Omo Zone, 5 weredas of Segen Peoples Zone and 15 weredas and 2 city administrations of Gamo Gofa Zone. It will also serve as a conduit to the university on various educational and behavioral projects and programs of the government and other local, regional and international organizations engaged in education sector.

It would assist in designing, revising and harmonizing curricula of different academic programs for the university and surrounding community. Both institutions will work with primary and secondary schools, regional education bureau, zonal educational departments, woreda education offices and other government and NGOs working in the fields of instructional quality, continuous professional development trainings, advisory and counseling services, educational researches and child development and support.

Situated at Chamo Campus, School of Pedagogical and Behavioral Sciences functions as a part of College of Social Sciences and Humanities till it become an independent Institute of Pedagogical and Behavioral Sciences.

The School has units of Quality Enhancement Coordination Office, Research and Community Service Coordination Office, Department of Psychology & Pedagogical Sciences. Department of Pedagogical Sciences includes subunits of PGDT and Practicum Coordination unit, Dr Anto summed up.

By Corporate Communication Directorate (Philips Joseph)