after the first batch of trainees had been recruited and completed their first term training. The official declaration was made by the then king, Emperor Haile Selassie I.

The Community Development School started the training program with the intention of attaining the following objectives:

• Training teachers who could teach children of the farmers in the rural parts of Ethiopia.
• Training individuals who could coordinate others so as to solve the basic problems of society.
• Training women who could work for childcare and hygiene.

The number of the first batch of trainees joining the Community Development School was seventy. They were recruited from Kefa, Shoa, Harar, Wollo, and Addis Ababa. As thirty-nine of the recruits were married, the school had no choice except to admit the couples to attend the training.

The curriculum was comprised of professional and vocational areas such as agriculture, health, and animal rearing. Academic subjects like geography, history, aesthetics, and physical education were also components of the curriculum. Female trainees were required to study Amharic, Mathematics, Geography, Health, and Childcare subjects.

The school revised its selection policy and started admitting grade eight graduates for a two-year training program in 1952 (1960 G.C.). According to the new selection policy, candidates were required to be single and not married.

The Beginning of the Teacher Training Institute

As time went by, the then Community Development Teacher Training School became a Teacher Training Institute bearing the name Debre Birhan Teacher Training Institute in 1956 E.C. (1964 G.C.). It began with the provision of training for primary school teachers in 1957 (1965 G.C.) and continued doing so until 1995 E.C. (2003 G.C.).

As the school buildings had very few offices, classrooms, dormitories, libraries, kitchens, and dining rooms, the number of trainees did not exceed three hundred and fifty from 1949–1962 E.C. (1957–1970).

To address the problems related to the shortage of rooms, the Ministry of Education allocated a budget for the construction of additional buildings in 1962 E.C. (1970 G.C.). Consequently, nine classrooms, six dormitories, and a dining hall were constructed. Following the expansion, the number of trainees was alarmingly increased to six hundred. Moreover, the Amhara Development Association (ADA) constructed eight additional classrooms in 1992 E.C. (2000 G.C.). The maximum number of trainees, however, remained unchanged. Four years later, as the boarding and accommodation services of the institute ceased to function, action was taken to change dormitories into classrooms. As a result, the number of regular trainees reached one thousand in 1996 (2004 G.C.).

A Step Forward

As of August 2, 1995 E.C. (2003 G.C.), the institute was promoted to the higher institution level with the new name "Debre Birhan Teacher Education and Vocational Training College." The certificate program was replaced by a new diploma program with the intention of producing teachers for upper primary schools and middle-level skilled professionals in coaching, music, and sport.

For the new vocational training program, new buildings were constructed with 6.1 million birr funded by the Federal Government of Ethiopia. A few years later, the vocational training program was gradually terminated. The buildings are now used for the teacher-education program.

The college celebrated its 50th Golden Jubilee with colorful and interesting events in 2008 G.C. A number of individuals and organizations left their footprints by the provision of material and financial support for the anniversary to take place colorfully.

The college was re-established by Proclamation No. 109/2005 in 2005 E.C. and has been renamed "Debre Birhan College of Teacher Education." It was further re-established under Regulation No. 209/2015 by the Council of the Amhara National Regional State to offer degree programs.

Current Programs

Currently, the college offers degree programs for middle school teacher preparation in English, Amharic, General Science, Information Technology, Social Studies, and Citizenship Education. For primary school teacher preparation, the college provides diploma programs in Amharic, English, and Moral Education, as well as a diploma program in pre primary (early childhood) education.