Since 2020, Ethiopia’s northernmost Tigray region has been at the center of a civil conflict involving ethno-regional militias, the federal government, and the Eritrean military. The violence has triggered a refugee crisis, displacing 5.1 million people in 2021.
The impact on children’s education outcomes is among the most pervasive consequences. Focusing on barriers to educational access, SHARE’s research on Reading for Ethiopia’s Achievement Developed II identified obstacles and paths to student success.
Working with USAID/Ethiopia, SHARE analyzed the leading causes of absenteeism in the states of Afar and Amhara. They found reasons for absences typically fall into four categories: economic barriers (the need for children to work, food insecurity), conflict and war-related barriers (psychological factors, deaths of family members), beliefs and values about education (many parents do not see the benefit, although adolescents expressed a positive view of education), and gender-specific barriers.
Concerned about the long-lasting impact of academic disruption, the Ethiopian government, local partners, and USAID/Ethiopia are using their findings to craft an effective policy response.
“Rather than just let students drift into full or even partial failure, the Ethiopian government has taken an interest in the policy process, especially how the implementation phase can be strengthened and supported,” Project Manager Bethany Little said. “Our work helps to unlock the key factors behind absenteeism and pinpoint key messages for decision-makers.”