By Pam Chuol Joack, Gambella Vision Reporter

Birhanu NegaMinister for Education

Ethiopia: New Initiative Requires University students to teach before graduating:

Education Minister Prof. Birhanu Nega has announced a groundbreaking initiative requiring university students to teach for one year prior to graduation. The program, titled “Ethiopian University Service,” aims to enable students to contribute to their communities in their respective fields of study before completing their degrees.

During a session on April in April 2, 2025, at the House of People’s Representatives’ Standing Committee on Human Resource Development, Employment, and Technology Affairs, Prof. Birhanu highlighted the initiative as a response to the country’s critical teacher shortage, which currently exceeds 100,000 qualified educators.

He emphasized that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to tackle the significant lack of qualified teachers across Ethiopia. Under the new program, students will receive compensation to cover their basic expenses while fulfilling their teaching obligations for one year before advancing to their fourth year of studie

This article was written by Pam Chuol Joack, A reporter for gambella Vision