A recent study by Ethiopia’s National Educational Assessment and Examination Agency (NEAEA) has revealed a concerning literacy gap among young students in Ethiopia. According to the study, an astounding 56% of second and third graders are unable to read a single word. This finding highlights significant challenges in the country’s educational system, although it marks a slight improvement from two years ago when the figure was 63%.
The NEAEA’s research, conducted over the last financial year, involved 401 schools across Ethiopia—excluding the Tigray region—and assessed the literacy skills of 16,000 students. Effa Gurmu, Executive Director of Education Evaluation and Research at NEAEA, expressed concern over the current teaching methodologies, noting that the predominant style of instruction involves teachers writing on the board with students copying down notes, leaving minimal time for actual reading during class.
This teaching approach, coupled with inadequate training and resources, has contributed significantly to the literacy crisis. The study found that 70% of teachers have not received training on the new curriculum, and 75% of the necessary textbooks have not reached students, exacerbating the problem.
In response to these dire statistics, Ethiopia Reading (ER), a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting children’s reading culture, has been actively involved in addressing these challenges. Founded in 1998 in the United States and registered in Ethiopia in 2002, ER has shipped over a quarter of a million books to Ethiopia and established more than 70 libraries. Annually, the organization serves more than 130,000 children across all regions of the country.
To further address the literacy issue, the 4th Annual Children’s Reading Summit was held at the Sapphire Addis Hotel under the theme “Bringing Enthusiasm to Reading and Educational Professionals.” The event featured presentations of research papers by experts in various fields, sparking discussions and idea exchanges among participants about potential solutions and strategies to enhance literacy rates among young learners.
This literacy crisis calls for urgent and sustained efforts from all stakeholders, including government agencies, educational institutions, and international partners, to ensure that every child in Ethiopia has the opportunity to acquire basic reading skills that are crucial for their educational and personal development.
