Armed group lifts a three-year educational ban in the Amhara Region, but destroyed infrastructure and military camps threaten the 2026/2027 school year
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — Following three years of widespread educational disruptions across conflict-affected areas, Fano fighters have formally lifted their ban on schooling and urge families to enroll their children for the 2026/2027 academic year, according to a report by Wazema.
Directives issued by the Amhara Fano National Movement (AFNM) and reviewed by Borkena instruct local administrative structures across controlled territories to permit the full resumption of teaching. Group leadership informs community elders and educators that previous operational restrictions are void, encouraging parents to send children back to classrooms.
Educational activities across rural zones—particularly within the Gojjam area—faced severe interruptions over the past three years as armed factions previously maintained conflicting policies regarding school operations. Community members and teachers told Wazema that the group’s newly unified structure establishes a single directive lifting the prohibition region-wide.
The policy shift aligns with the 2026/2027 academic year schedule released by the Amhara Regional Education Bureau, which sets student registration from August 24 to September 10, 2026, with regular classes scheduled to begin on September 15, 2026. Regional authorities aim to enroll over 7.6 million students from pre-primary through secondary levels.
Despite the lifted ban, local educators told Wazema that significant physical and security obstacles threaten the academic calendar. Teachers reported that while direct intimidation from fighters has eased, various armed groups continue to use numerous academic facilities as active camps, creating ongoing safety risks for students and staff.
Physical infrastructure across the region remains severely compromised. Regional bureau reports cited by Wazema indicate that over 6,000 schools suffered extensive damage during the northern war and subsequent regional clashes. Consequently, millions of children have experienced prolonged educational displacement over the last three years.
Borkena’s review of regional data shows that during the 2023/2024 academic year, 3.4 million students dropped out, including 2.5 million children who never enrolled and 900,000 who withdrew due to active hostilities. In the 2024/2025 academic year, only 2.8 million out of 7.2 million eligible students—approximately 40 percent—attended classes. During the 2025/2026 academic year, enrollment rose slightly to 3.96 million out of 7.4 million students, representing 46.2 percent participation.
United Nations assessments released in July and August 2026 estimate that over 9 million children nationwide remain out of school due to compound crises, with nearly half of all affected youth concentrated in rural areas of Gojjam, Gondar, and Wollo. Teachers emphasized to Wazema that demilitarizing school grounds and rehabilitating damaged facilities remain critical prerequisites for restoring regular instruction.
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