The challenges in Ethiopia's education system are multifaceted. Lack of basic educational infrastructure, families and communities having competing priorities, and English language problems that follow students to high school and beyond, to name a few of the challenges.
One of the biggest challenges in Ethiopia's education system, especially in poorer and rural communities, is the need for qualified teachers. Ethiopia's best and brightest don't want to be teachers and those who do rarely last long.
Accordingly, we believe that the following are the main root causes contributing to the quality and equity challenges in Ethiopia's Education System:
Teachers are primarily selected from poor-performing students and must be adequately supported during their training to help them become effective educators.
The teaching profession does not garner the respect it deserves, and Ethiopia's best and brightest don't want to be teachers.
In rural and low-income households with several competing priorities, families tend to invest in boys rather than girls, leading to a high dropout rate of girls.
Early marriage for girls means dropping out before finishing high school and taking the lion's share of raising a family.
Lack of leaders and education advocates who can understand and amplify the communities' voice
Lack of leaders that can articulate the need for tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of Ethiopia's various ethnic groups.
The Challenge and the Lack of qualified teachers in Ethiopia :
Today, teachers are mainly selected from poor-performing students: those who graduate Grade 10 in the top 30% or so go on to Grade 11; those in the tier below join the police; the rest who pass can go to teacher training college. In addition, the teaching profession needs to garner the respect it deserves, and teachers feel trapped with limited potential to grow in their careers and beyond.