KEYIR NEWS - Amid challenges of overcrowded classrooms and scarce resources, teachers are praised for their unwavering role in shaping the nation’s future.
For two days, teachers, parents and education officials gathered to reflect on the 2017 school year. But beyond the statistics and reports, the conference of the General Education Development Sector became a moment of recognition, an acknowledgment of the quiet resilience of Ethiopia’s teachers.
At the event, held in partnership with the Ethiopian Teachers’ Association, educators were celebrated for their central role in nurturing a new generation. Officials described teachers as “the backbone of the education system,” emphasising that no reform or development programme could succeed without their commitment.
Behind the recognition, however, lies a more human story. Many teachers across Ethiopia work in overcrowded classrooms, often with limited teaching materials and modest pay. Despite these challenges, they remain on the frontlines of shaping students’ futures.
Parents and community representatives at the gathering spoke of teachers who go beyond the classroom—mentoring children, providing guidance, and serving as role models in their neighbourhoods.
“We often speak of education in terms of policies and budgets,” one participant remarked. “But the true story is written every day by teachers who stay late to tutor struggling pupils, or who reach into their own pockets to buy supplies.”
The Ministry of Education also highlighted the role of parents, urging closer collaboration between families and schools to ensure children not only enrol but thrive. Stronger parent–teacher partnerships, officials noted, are vital to improving performance and keeping young people in school.
As the conference closed, the message was clear: Ethiopia’s future rests heavily on its classrooms. Teachers, often unsung, carry the weight of that responsibility.
The recognition offered at the 2017 review was not just symbolic; it was a reminder of the urgent need to invest in teacher training, welfare and resources, so that their dedication is matched by the support they deserve.
In the words of one official, “Our teachers are not simply imparting knowledge; they are shaping the citizens who will build tomorrow’s Ethiopia.”