Background of Ethiopian Education

Christian and Islamic religious institutions had served as pillars for the introduction of Literacy education for centuries and bridged the foundation of modern education in Ethiopia.

There is a presumption that modern education has been introduced by the missionaries. The first modern school, dubbed Menelik II was first established in 1908 in the capital, by Emperor Menelik II.

To expand modern education, the emperor implemented numerous initiatives such as organizing an educational exchange mission and sending students to explore foreign education systems. Consequently, during his reign, schools were established in Ankober city. Additional schools such as W/ro Sehin in Dessie town, and the Alliance Française schools were also established in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.

Upon the Emperor Haile Selassie ascension to the throne in 1931, he established a national institution known as the Ministry of Arts, which oversaw the promotion of modern education in the country and was led by the emperor himself. Soon after, he appointed the institution’s first Minister H.E Lord Sahle Tsedalu. In line, with the prevailing governance framework: boarding schools, girls' schools, technical schools, and mission schools were established in each province.

Before the Italian invasion in 1928, Emperor Menilik II and Teferi Mekkonen established 30 schools, in which 5,000 students were admitted. According to reports, students used to be entreated to attend modern schools as they were not willing to attend modern education. However, during the invasion, the schools were compelled to shut down. 

The establishment of modern schools that had been ceased from 1936-1941, has been re-established after the defeat of the Fascist regime, in 1943. Emperor Haile Selassie revived the development of modern education and re-established the Ministry of Education and Arts, appointing H.E Mr. Mekkonen Desta as Minister. During this time, schools that had been closed were re-opened and further expansion efforts were undertaken.

Between 1942 and 1974, approximately 2,000 schools, ranging from grade one to grade 12 were opened across various provinces of the country. Additionally, 14 colleges and four universities were established.

After Emperor Haile-Silase’s abdication and the ruling of the Derg regime, H.E Mr. Tadesses Terefa was appointed as the first Minster of Arts and Education. In 1975, research was conducted, and the Institution’s name dubbed as ‘Ministry of Education and Arts’ has changed to the ‘Ministry of Education.’ Accordingly, Haile-Gebriel Dagne (Dr) from 1974-1977, Terefe Woldetsadik (Dr.) from 1977-1978, Colonel Goshu Wolde from 1972-1976, Mr. Billgne Mandefro from 1983-1987, Yayehrad Kitaw (Dr.) from 1987-1991 had served the Ministry of Education as Ministers. Until the fall of the Derg government 8,434 primary schools, 275 secondary schools, 17 technical and vocational training institutions, two universities, three institutes and colleges had educated around two million five hundred thousand students.

In 1991, following the Derg's departure and the establishment of a transitional government led by the EPRDF, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) was assigned responsibility for the Ministry of Education. Mr. Ibsa Gutema, the representative of OLF, was appointed Minister of Education. He led the Ministry from August 1992 until OLF resigned from the transitional government. Following his departure, Ms. Genet Zewde (later an ambassador) took over leadership and served until 2006. Sintayehu Woldemichael (Dr.) succeeded her from 2006 to 2009, followed by Mr. Demeke Mekonnen, who led the Ministry from 2009 to 2013. Mr. Shiferaw Shegute then served the Ministry from 2013 to 2017, and Shiferaw Teklemariam was in charge from October 2017 until July 2017.

In 2018, a significant restructuring of the Ethiopian government ministries took place. The former Ministry of Education, which had previously overseen both general and higher education, was divided into two distinct entities. The newly established Ministry of Education was tasked with overseeing general education. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education was formed to manage higher education institutions, including Addis Ababa and Adama Science and Technology universities, which were previously under the Ministry of Science and Technology. With the formation of the new Ministry of Education, Tilaye Getu (Dr.) was appointed Minister of Education from December 2019 until 2020. Since 2020, Getahun Mekuria (Dr. Eng.) has led the institution as a minister.

In 2021, the Ethiopian government restructured the Ministry, merging the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to form a unified Ministry of Education. Professor Birhanu Nega was appointed as the Minster of Education and has been serving in this role since then.