Author: Fassil R. Kiros

Publisher: Washington, D.C. : World Bank

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 138

ISBN-13:

This paper describes in detail the historical roots of the modern Ethiopian educational system. Ethiopia began a program of modernization and development upon liberation in 1941. By 1961 the country's educational accomplishments were found to be quite low when compared with other African countries, most of whom were not yet or just barely independent themselves. Some gains were made in the education sector through the implementation of a series of five-year development plans. Since 1974, Ethiopia has been undergoing a process of revolutionary change, including a quantitative and qualitative expansion of education at all levels, including basic literacy. However, the education system has expanded faster than the rest of the economy, creating problems of educational quality, wastage and inefficiency, poor working conditions of teachers, educated unemployment, and the need for continuing reorganization. The report describes the role of education as envisioned in the Government's Ten Year Perspective Plan (1984-94) and argues that problems remain today not because education has been neglected, but because much greater emphasis has been placed on its expansion.