Ethiopian government lifts ban on distance learning

02 Nov, 2010

The Ethiopian government has now lifted the ban it imposed without warning on distance learning at the end of August 2010.

After extensive negotiations with 64 private organisations that offer distance learning courses the government has now agreed that the institutions can continue to teach, enrol new students, expand their programmes and set up new campuses.

The private universities in turn have committed to a 70-30 per cent ratio between science/technology programmes versus humanities studies. They have been given a two-year period in which to implement any necessary changes to their curricula. They have also agreed to periodic quality checks by the ministry of education.

However training of health workers and teachers remains solely under the jurisdiction of the state institutions.