News: Over nine million Ethiopian children out of school amid conflict, displacement: Report
Addis Abeba – A new report by the United Nations (UN) reveals that over nine million children in Ethiopia are currently out of school due to conflict, violence, natural disasters, and displacement, with more than 6,000 schools remaining closed.
According to the latest Humanitarian Situation Report by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), over 10,000 schools—representing 18% of the country’s total—have been damaged by conflict and climate shocks. UNICEF stated that this has “further reduced the availability of safe and functional learning spaces.”
The report highlights that the highest numbers of out-of-school children are found in the Amhara (4.4 million), Oromia (3.2 million), and Tigray (1.2 million) regions.
Recently, the Forum for Higher Education Institutions in the Amhara Region disclosed that 4.7 million children in the region are out of school, with only 32% enrolled in the current academic year.
Additionally, 4,870 schools—comprising 47% of the region’s total—remain closed primarily due to conflict and insecurity, while over 1,500 schools have been destroyed. More than 50% of the out-of-school children in Amhara are concentrated in the North, West, and East Gojjam zones, as well as the Central Gondar Zone.
In May 2024, Addis Standard also reported that the ongoing conflict in Western Oromia has severely impacted the education sector, with at least 730 schools having been closed and displacing approximately 210,000 students from their education. AS
