Amhara Conflict Leaves 3.1 Million Children Out of School

By Mintesinot Nigussie  |  September 16, 2026

About 3.1 million children in Ethiopia’s Amhara region were out of school or had not registered for the 2025/26 academic year, according to the Amhara Regional Civil Society Organisations Council (ARCSOC), which says three years of conflict have severely disrupted education across the region.

The council said only about 4.3 million of the 7.4 million students expected to enrol in the 2025/26 academic year had registered. It said the figure does not include children newly reaching school age each year, suggesting that the number of children affected could be higher.

Thousands of schools have also been affected by the conflict, according to the council. Hundreds have been used as military camps or shelters for internally displaced people, while others have been damaged or destroyed and lost teaching and learning materials.

The disruption has left many schools unable to accommodate children who have been out of education for the past three years. ARCSOC said some schools have been destroyed, while others lack classrooms, textbooks and other essential materials needed to support the return of students.

The council said it had received reports that efforts to prepare for the 2026/27 academic year were progressing, including the removal of military camps from most schools and improvements in student registration. It welcomed the efforts by the relevant parties to help reopen schools.

However, ARCSOC called on all parties involved in the conflict to keep the new academic year free from political and military activities and allow schools across the region to operate.

It also called for parents to be able to send their children to school without fear, while urging the protection of students, teachers and schools from attacks and military activities.

The council further proposed establishing an independent monitoring body made up of parents, elders, religious leaders and indigenous civil society organisations to monitor schools and help prevent their use for political or military purposes.

ARCSOC said access to quality education is a human right and an issue of social justice. It is an umbrella body representing more than 400 civil society organisations operating in the Amhara region.

Source: FSX Business News