The Eritrea Institute of Technology is located on Mai Nefhi, about 20 km south west of Asmara, near the Mai Nefhi dam. It currently has three colleges: Science, Engineering and Technology, and Education. Other new colleges are also under construction elsewhere in the country in other fields of studies. The Institute began with about 5,500 students during the 2003-2004 academic year.
The EIT was opened after the University of Asmara was ordered closed. The government however claims that reason for the opening of the college was to achieve equal distribution of higher learning in areas away from the capital city of Asmara. Similar colleges were opened in other prates of the country. College enrollment has dramatically increased in the country as a result of the opening of these institutions.
Now Eritrea institute of Technology or EIT at Mai Nefhi is the main college of higher studies in science, engineering and education in Eritrea. The number of faculties is increasing every year and the EIT facilities are getting better. The funding for EIT is basically external. However some funding is also provided by the Ministry of Education, Eritrea. The number of students graduating is also increasing every year.
Surprisingly enough, the University of Asmara, the only university in the country and one with international accreditation was ordered to close its doors in favor of the newly established colleges, none of which has a recognized international standing. Currently the government has plans to shut down EIT in 2012 and ship the student back to UOA and use the EIT facility for military training purposes. The government has done this because the previous sawa camp was to far for the students and wanted students to be encouraged by being close to asmara the capital and for mainly budget purposes currently the UOA is undergoing severe renovation for the new students. Second of all students with a UOA degree, certificate, and diploma will be internationally accredited. Although there is much frustration with students over the changes in schools the ministry of education is working diligently to encourage students. students who have 1yr left will be still in mai nefhi but in a different facility from the national high school students, to encourage sawa students how much important higher education is. EIT is currently helping with 45% percent of the development in eritrea. From chemical engineers to Geologists eritrea is reaching higher and higher to a developed country. Currently EIT's motto is EDUCATION FOR NATION BUILDING students love the motto and feel a sense of pride when they recognize that, Students realize that they are working day and night to give their country a better future. Some of the courses are bio-medical, chemical, medical, micro, scatological,and other engineering courses. On the education facility the graduates are helping their current severe shortages of teachers. The current teachers are old, but new graduates will be younger and help with the school shortages. By 2015 the student-teacher ratio will drop by 52% meaning less students per teacher, which is part of the ministry of education eagerness to help Eritrea become more developed.