Addis Ababa, March 19, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Digital Transformation Council, Temesgen Tiruneh, has highlighted major strides in the country’s education reform agenda following a high-level virtual consultation with regional presidents, city mayors, education leaders, and key stakeholders.
In a social media post after the meeting, Deputy PM Temesgen said, “Today, I convened a comprehensive virtual consultation … to assess progress on two critical national priorities: the digital transformation of Ethiopia’s National Examination and Assessment System, and the accelerated expansion of pre-primary education.”
Guided by the Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy, he described the digital transformation of the examination and assessment system as a cornerstone of the broader education reform, emphasizing that its objective is “to establish a secure, accessible, fair, and efficient digital platform that not only safeguards the integrity of national examinations but also equips our students with essential digital competencies required to succeed in an increasingly technology-driven world.”
During the session, participants conducted a thorough review of the preparatory work undertaken by the National Examination Task Force.
Also Chairman of Ethiopia’s National Digital Transformation Council, Deputy PM Temesgen underscored the importance of institutional accountability, stating that responsible leaders must “fully discharge their duties to ensure the successful transition of the Grade 12 National Examination to a fully digital format, thereby laying the foundation for a modern, credible, and equitable national assessment system.”
The meeting also reinforced a firm commitment to expand early childhood education nationwide.
“We also reached a firm and shared commitment to complete and operationalize 1,452 standardized pre-primary schools across all regions and the two city administrations by next August—an essential step in strengthening early childhood education and expanding equitable access nationwide,” he said.
Officials were directed to expedite the distribution of already printed primary school textbooks to all schools, while the printing and delivery of textbooks for pre-primary through Grade 6 must be completed by next September.
Deputy PM Temesgen concluded the consultation by emphasizing coordinated, accountable, and accelerated implementation, noting, “By advancing digital transformation across all sectors—most critically in education—we are laying the foundation for a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready Ethiopia—one that our children will inherit with confidence and pride.”