Ethiopia Banning Mobile Phones, Other Electronic Devices In School Grounds

Borkena

Toronto – As Ethiopia’s academic year (it is 2018) is opening on  Meskerem 5 (September 15), the ministry of Education has announced a new regulation on the use of electronics within school premises.

“Starting the 2018 academic year, no mobile phones, tablets and electronic devices are allowed in schools,” the Ministry said in a statement it shared on Saturday on its social media page.  

The regulation, it seems, is introduced within the context of student ethnic in school grounds, based on the news release the ministry shared. It is applicable country wide. The country has been experiencing very poor education quality. It is noticeable that many critical observers who share views on social media platforms tend to relate what they see as a “disaster level” quality of education to the ethnic politics in the country which has a constitutional structure. 

Ayelech Eshete, State Minister for Educational Development, made the announcement during a virtual meeting session with regional education bureaus. 

Before class starts on the 15, the ministry has scheduled a meeting between students and teachers on Friday September 12. It means school technically opens on September 12. The day is also designated as preparation day for classes on Monday. However, the Ministry did not specify agenda items for the meeting between students and teachers. 

The ministry did not seem to discuss the security implication of restricting students from carrying mobile phones given the crisis-like situation of kidnapping students in many parts of the country. 

Yohannes Wogasso, Education Quality Programmes executive in the ministry, has reportedly discussed preparations for the academic year including from a security point of view. However, detailed information is shared in the Ministry’s news release in that regard. 

Registration of students for the academic year will continue until the opening of the school, according to the news release. 

Over 5 million students were out of school over the past two years in the Amhara region of Ethiopia alone due to the ongoing conflict between Fano forces and the Abiy Ahmed led Prosperity Party government. 

Last month, Fano leaders in all parts of the Amhara region announced that school will be open during this academic year in the parts of the region they control. Until very recently, they were in control of over 80 percent of the region. There are also localities in the Oromia region, among others, where students have been out of school in connection with ongoing conflicts between armed groups and the government. 

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