Over nine million children in Ethiopia are currently out of school due to conflict, displacement, and natural disasters, according to a recent Humanitarian Situation Report by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). The report also reveals that more than 10,000 schools—18% of Ethiopia’s total—have been damaged, severely limiting access to safe and functional learning spaces.
The highest numbers of out-of-school children are reported in Amhara (4.4 million), Oromia (3.2 million), and Tigray (1.2 million) regions, highlighting the widespread impact of violence and instability on education.
In the Amhara Region alone, nearly 4,870 schools, constituting 47% of the region’s total, remain closed primarily due to insecurity. Furthermore, over 1,500 schools have been destroyed, leaving more than half of the out-of-school children concentrated in zones such as North, West, and East Gojjam, along with Central Gondar. Only 32% of children in the region have enrolled in the current academic year.
UNICEF’s findings also noted that in Western Oromia, ongoing violence has displaced over 210,000 students, with at least 730 schools remaining shut. The report underscores the critical need for immediate efforts to restore education services and provide safe learning environments for children across Ethiopia.