“Go Public! Fund Education” campaign launched

In a significant step towards enhancing public education and the status of the teaching profession, the Ethiopian Teachers Association (ETA) launched the Education International (EI) “Go Public! Fund Education!” campaign in conjunction with its 11th Quality Education Conference. This initiative, supported by EI Solidarity Fund, aimed to address the pressing issues in the country’s education sector through a series of strategic actions and public activities.

A call to action

The campaign’s core objective is to urge the Ethiopian government to invest more in public education, which is deemed a fundamental human right and public good. Yohannes Benti Chokorso, President of ETA and member of the EI Executive Board, emphasized the global movement among education unions to build inclusive quality public education systems. “We are mobilizing to fully fund public education systems and resist budget cuts, austerity, and privatization,” he stated.

Strategic initiatives

The campaign’s activities were meticulously planned and executed over several months. Key initiatives included:

• Budget analysis: A quick survey was conducted to analyze the financial allocation for education compared to other sectors. This involved hiring an expert from Addis Ababa University to provide evidence-based insights.
• Media campaign: To reach a wider audience, the campaign used various media channels, including television, radio, and print. Texts were prepared for publication in prominent newspapers like the Ethiopian Herald and The Reporter, and spots were produced for national radio and TV.
• Training: ETA organized training sessions on communication and campaign strategies for 30 union leaders, from the head office to branch levels.

A campaign launch with various sectors

The launch campaign was synchronized with the annual Quality Education Conference and culminated in a grand event on June 27th, 2024, which was attended by over 200 participants, including high-ranking government officials, EI Africa Director Dennis Sinyolo, education development partners, and representatives from various sectors. The event featured discussions on critical issues such as public spending on education and the challenges faced by the teaching profession in Ethiopia.

Evidence-based advocacy

To make it clear that the campaign is evidence-based, two relevant research papers – “Teachers Training and Teaching Effectiveness of Pre-Primary and Primary School Teachers in the Sidama National Regional State: Implications for Students’ Achievement” and “The Plight of Teaching Profession in Ethiopia. From Unqualified Teachers to Teacherless Classes” – were presented during the launch, in addition to the one focusing on education financing and entitled “Public Spending on Education in Ethiopia: Improving Efficiency, Equity and Prioritization”.

To support the campaigning efforts, the ETA President presented his union’s study “Schools Realities: Various Cases”.

The Ethiopian launch of EI “Go Public! Fund Education” campaign not only highlighted the need for increased education funding, but also enhanced the visibility and public image of both ETA and EI. As the national campaign slogan aptly puts it, “Education First. Together, we can!”, Benti Chokorso underlined.

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