Uganda Benchmarks Ethiopia’s Education Policies

Ethiopia has a new 10-year Education policy under implementation launched in 2021. This replaced the 1994 policy.  The national budget allocation for education is about 20%.  Overall, Ethiopia has attained, increased equitable access to education at various education levels. The focus of its new policy is on quality and relevancy of education to the economic landscape and the national development priorities.

A team from the Education Policy Review Commission visited Ethiopia in April 2024. The objective of the benchmarking tour was, to gain a deeper insight and knowledge of the country’s education system and draw lessons which can be adopted into the new macro policy framework for the education sector in Uganda.

The Commission met key stakeholders in Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education led by the Minister of State for Higher Education.  The Commission also visited polytechnics, education colleges, the aviation academy and universities.

The key learnings made by the Commission:

1.     Education system is 8 years-primary, 4 years-secondary.  Pre-primary is 2 years for children aged 5-6. All pre-primary schools are located in primary schools. All general education is free and compulsory- pre-primary to grade 8. Secondary education is free but not compulsory.  There is a law to ensure that children attend school. All schools open at 8.00 am and close at 3:00 pm, except for pre-primary learners who start at 9.00 am and close at 12.30 pm. This allows children time for recreation activities and to engage in community/domestic activities. There are NO boarding schools for primary level learners.

2.     School feeding is availed by the district which provides a menu to ensure a modest balanced diet. The feeding allowance to schools is the equivalent of Uganda shillings 1,700 per child, daily. The district also provides uniforms and exercise books to learners and lab coats to teachers.

3.     Teachers are well paid: a scale above other civil servants, given housing and transportation, even land by the district.  Teacher training is aligned to the curriculum.  National exams are issued to grade 12 leavers. Federal exams are issued for lower grades. Moral education is taught from P1 to P6, then citizenship education is taught from P7 onwards. This makes learners patriotic.

4.     Ethiopia has three languages of instruction. Early learning is in mother tongue till grade 7. English is taught as a subject.  A regional language is introduced in grade 3. English is used for instruction in grade 9, upwards.

5.     Universities are transitioning to being autonomous. Higher education was fully financed by Government of Ethiopia before 2004.  It now, requires the learner to pay for their meals, accommodation and 15% of the tuition fee. A loan is advanced to all learners, and is payable after 1 year of employment.  About 70% of graduates released to the market are trained in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

6.     Ethiopia operates specialized universities in the fields of: research, applied science, science and technology, and comprehensive education. Universities are refocusing priority areas of study for quality, by merging, consolidating or removing irrelevant programs.

7.     The sector allows PhD holders to serve in Government as well as teach. Currently, all undergraduate courses sit exit exams set by the national examination unit of the Ministry of Education. Prior to 2023, only law and engineering graduates took a national exam before graduation.   Pre entry exams are offered to post graduate programs. The government of Ethiopia stopped licensing new universities or campuses to focus on quality. About 20% of higher education is Vocational or practical oriented.

8.     Ethiopian Aviation University offers specialized training in aviation engineering, operations, tourism and hospitality, among others.  It offers degree and masters programs. The instructors are PhD holders.  The academy has simulators and elaborate training facilities for all aircrafts.

9.     Kotebe University of Education was established in 2021 as a center of excellence for innovation, teaching and leadership training in education. The courses offered are more than the usual teacher training. Courses cover all specialties required in the Education chain such as psychologists, counsellors, policymakers, Technologists, librarians, leaders, administrators, etc.

10.  Technical and vocational training institutions in Ethiopia are under the Ministry of Labour and Skills. The objective is to link training to the demand of skills in the market. Vocational courses are introduced in secondary school, subjects include carpentry, basic manufacturing, and joinery among others.  Any graduate at this level acquires a TVET certificate - level 1, and can enter the labour market.