By: Getahun Tsegaye
Staff Reporter
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – More than 41,000 teachers and school leaders in Ethiopia’s conflict-hit Amhara region are set to undergo professional development training this summer, as announced by Demis Endris, Deputy Head of the Amhara Regional Education Bureau. The initiative, which is supported by the Ministry of Education, is intended to strengthen educators’ ability to implement the country’s revised curriculum and enhance the quality of teaching amid a deteriorating education environment.
“This training is a response to what teachers have been requesting,” said Demis. “One of the questions teachers raised in various forums was that they should be adequately capacitated on the new curriculum.” He emphasized that the government is working “step by step” to address these demands.
The training will involve more than 27,700 secondary school teachers and school leaders who will attend sessions at universities, while 11,200 teachers for grades 7 and 8 and 2,300 school leaders will be trained on newly introduced vocational subjects. Around 1,500 primary school leaders are also expected to take part, with training modules prepared by teacher education colleges.
This initiative comes at a time of immense disruption in the region, where conflict between federal forces and the Fano militia has paralyzed normal life, including access to education. Despite claims by the federal government that it has “almost controlled the entire region,” Fano forces have continued to resist, prolonging the instability.
The prolonged fighting has led to the widespread closure of schools. According to recent reports from UNICEF and humanitarian agencies, more than 2.3 million children in the Amhara region are currently out of school. The education sector has been devastated by insecurity, displacement, and the destruction of infrastructure.
The educational crisis is part of a broader humanitarian emergency in Amhara. Access to food, healthcare, and essential public services has been severely curtailed in many parts of the region. Schools that remain standing are often being used as shelters for displaced families, while teachers and students alike face immense psychological stress.
The training program, while a positive step, may face significant implementation challenges if the conflict continues. Education officials acknowledge that peace and stability are prerequisites for any meaningful progress. “Unless peace is restored, our efforts may not bear fruit,” said one local education officer, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.
With the goal of improving student performance from the 2025/2026 academic year, authorities hope that the training will prepare teachers to deliver the new curriculum effectively. However, many observers warn that unless the security situation improves, millions of children in Amhara could continue to miss out on their right to education.
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