Strengthening Partnerships to Enhance Ethiopia’s Educational Quality

Abstract

 A critical issue commonly raised by eductional experts is of low educational quality, which has hindered the effective delivery of education and failed to meet the needs of Ethiopia’s rapidly changing socio-economic environment. Participants discussed how outdated curricula, insufficiently trained teachers, and lack of resources and infrastructure contribute to the widening gap between educational outcomes and labor market demands. The need to align education with national development goals, particularly in light of global educational standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), was also highlighted as a central challenge. The key issues included expert discussions on aligning teacher professional development with national and global educational standards, the importance of curriculum innovation to meet the demands of the labor market, and the need for enhanced infrastructure and research-driven policy-making. The symposium also underscored the importance of partnerships between universities, Regional Education Bureaus (REBs), the Ministry of Education (MoE), and the private sector to address these critical challenges in Ethiopia’s education sector. This policy brief, therefore, outlines the main findings from the symposium and presents a series of actionable policy recommendations aimed at strengthening partnerships, improving teacher quality, aligning curricula with societal needs, and fostering sustainable development within the Ethiopian education system.