🇪🇹 Amhara Pushes to Re-Enrol 7.4 Million Students Amid School Closures and Conflict

 

Amhara has launched a massive campaign to bring 7.4 million students back to classrooms, as millions of Ethiopian children remain out of school due to conflict, insecurity, and climate shocks.

Zig Diaries Education
Date: Monday, 25 August 2025
Time: 15:30 WAT
Location: 📍 Amhara, Ethiopia

The drive comes after UNICEF reported that Amhara recorded the highest number of out-of-school children nationwide last year, with 4.4 million missing classes.

The Regional State Education Bureau says the campaign will run from 25 August to 5 September, targeting enrolment ahead of the new school year starting on 16 September. A large budget has been allocated to train more than 10,000 teachers and school leaders, while a further 24,000 educators have already received training through the Ministry of Education.

Officials admit that restoring education in the region will not be easy. In March 2025, more than 3,600 schools in Amhara were still closed due to insecurity. Teachers and administrators continue to face violence, including threats of kidnapping, murder, and displacement.

The bureau estimates that at least $800 million will be required to repair schools destroyed or damaged by years of armed conflict before learning can resume at full capacity.

Fact-Check and Background Context
According to UNICEF’s January 2025 report, Ethiopia has more than nine million children out of school nationwide due to a combination of war, displacement, natural disasters, and economic strain. The report also found that over 6,000 schools remain closed and more than 10,000 have been damaged or destroyed across the country.

In Amhara, insecurity from recent conflicts and worsening impacts of climate change - from droughts to floods - have pushed children out of classrooms. Research shows out-of-school children face heightened risks of forced labour, substance abuse, and depression. For girls, the dangers extend to forced marriages and early pregnancies.

Parents and local communities have stepped in with awareness campaigns, adopting slogans such as “No child should be out of school” and “Building tomorrow through education today.” Authorities say their new push is intended to restore confidence in the education system and prevent a lost generation.

🏷 Tags: Ethiopia, Amhara, Education, UNICEF, Out-of-School Children, Teachers, Conflict, Climate Change
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