The Minister of Education stated that universities are serving as political tools of the government instead of producing qualified students, conducting research, and conducting studies.

Berhanu Nega (Professor) made this statement at the closing ceremony of the Ethiopian Higher Education Institutions Reform Council held at the University of Gondar on July 04 and 05, 2025 under the theme “Higher Education for Greater Impact.”

"Rather than producing qualified teachers and students and conducting research that benefits society, universities have become political platforms," he said.

Universities should be places of peace. Scholars should be free from fear and anxiety, holding the truth and working in support of knowledge. What the country wants, and what we want, is for the institutions to be free from serving as instruments of the state, he said.