By Eyasu Zekarias

The Ministry of Education has announced the development of a new curriculum aimed at improving the education and training policy that has been in place for the past 28 years. As part of the new policy, it has been decided that English language instruction should begin in the 1st grade, with the option to study an additional foreign language starting from the 9th grade.

On February 27, 2023, the Council of Ministers approved a letter from the Minister of Education, instructing all regional and city government education offices to implement the new education system. According to the policy, students from the 3rd to 10th grade will have the opportunity to learn one more local language, based on their preference.

However, some teachers from private education institutions in Addis Ababa have expressed concerns about the new policy. They mentioned that despite the government’s ban on teaching such languages, including English, in private schools, some institutions are still offering these subjects secretly. Private schools differentiate themselves from government schools by offering a broader range of languages and a unique curriculum.

Government school teachers, on the other hand, believe that the focus on quality education should include compulsory English language instruction up to the 12th grade, as it is essential for their students to compete internationally.

Capital reached out to the Minister of Education for clarification on these matters but received no response. However, it has been revealed that the new education and training policy was designed to address the declining quality of education. The curriculum was criticized for being theory-heavy, not reflecting the current national context, lacking indigenous knowledge, and having infrequent assessments.

The new policy has been implemented in all state and city government education offices, public universities, and private higher education institutions. It has been enforced for kindergarten students in various schools.

While private schools continue to teach English language contrary to the ban, they are required to use the revised books that align with the new curriculum.

The government aims to provide two years of free and compulsory pre-primary education for 5 and 6 year-old children, with primary education starting at the age of 7 and becoming free and compulsory from the 1st to 6th grade. The new education system includes general education levels: pre-primary (ages 5-6), primary (grades 1-6), middle (grades 7-8), and secondary (grades 9-12).

It has been emphasized that the previous education and training policy failed to adequately instill good manners in citizens and did not prepare them for entrepreneurship and international competitiveness.