Despite a peace agreement signed over two years ago, the effects of the conflict in northern Ethiopia continue to prevent many children from returning to school, with Tigray and Amhara regions particularly affected.
In Tigray, an estimated 1.2 million children remain out of school, a direct result of the ongoing struggles faced by the region in the aftermath of the war. Although some improvements have been made since the peace deal, rebuilding the education system has proven difficult. Schools have been destroyed, families displaced, and many children still face the psychological and logistical challenges of re-entering education.
Dr. Kiros Gu’ush, the head of Tigray’s Education Bureau, shared with DW that while the region had hoped for 2.5 million children to be back in classrooms, only about half of them have been able to return. He attributes this gap to the widespread damage caused by the conflict, ongoing displacement, and the deep emotional impact that the war has had on children and their families. “More than 1.2 million children are still unable to attend school,” Dr. Kiros noted, emphasizing the slow recovery process and continued humanitarian needs.
In the Amhara region, the situation is equally troubling. Only 2.3 million of the 7 million expected students have returned to school, and over 400,000 students are still waiting to resume their education. Additionally, more than 4 million children have not even been registered for school this year.
Eyerus Mengistu, the Deputy Head of the Amhara Education Bureau, mentioned that security challenges remain a key obstacle to the reopening of schools. The region’s educational facilities continue to suffer from a lack of basic infrastructure and resources, with just 13.4% of schools meeting minimum standards.
Amhara is still reeling from an ongoing conflict between federal forces and Fano militias, which has led to civilian casualties, the closure of many schools, and disruptions in aid delivery.
At a recent event held by the Forum for Higher Education Institutions in the Amhara region, experts painted a grim picture, revealing that approximately 4.7 million children in the region are currently out of school. In addition, over 6 million people are in urgent need of food assistance.
With education in northern Ethiopia continuing to be severely disrupted, experts warn that the crisis poses a long-term threat to the region’s future, jeopardizing an entire generation’s access to education and economic opportunities. Without immediate intervention, the effects of this crisis could be felt for years to come.
