Ethiopia plans to construct more than 1,200 first-level primary schools across 626 woredas over the next six months, the Ministry of Education said, Sputnik Africa reports.

The announcement was made by Education Minister Berhanu Nega during a sector performance review forum, where he also confirmed that the 2026 Grade 12 National Examination will be conducted entirely online.

Under the national programme, each participating woreda is set to receive at least one new school, with regional and municipal administrations expected to replicate the model in additional locations. The ministry has approved the designs for the schools, and construction will begin promptly, with contractors selected in coordination with local authorities.

The programme builds on a wider expansion of Ethiopia’s education infrastructure: over the past few years, more than 34,000 first-level primary schools have been completed nationwide, according to ministry records, reflecting the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance access to basic education.