Students Condemn Policy as Unjust Extension of Studies Amid Growing Educational Crisis
Widespread student protests have erupted across Ethiopian university campuses following the Ministry of Education’s formal confirmation of a mandatory one-year national service requirement for all students enrolling from the 2026/27 academic year onward. The directive, which students argue will significantly prolong study periods and increase financial burdens, has sparked demonstrations at institutions including Ambo University and Arsi University since early this week.
The policy represents a significant flashpoint in ongoing tensions between students and government educational authorities. Student activists contend that the requirement constitutes an unjust extension of their academic obligations and exemplifies what they characterize as a pattern of “student-harming directives” from the ministry.
Origins of the Mandate and Student Response
The national service program was first publicly announced in April 2025 by Education Minister Prof. Berhanu Nega during remarks to lawmakers. The minister outlined the initiative as the “Ethiopian University Services” program, noting that university students would be deployed to different regions after completing their third year and before advancing to their fourth year to serve the communities that financed their education.
While the announcement appeared in April, students report having received preliminary notification as early as 2025 that a teaching service requirement might be introduced. An Arsi University student explained that the initiative initially seemed to be merely a draft concept rather than formal policy. The ministry’s recent decision to formally confirm and implement the requirement triggered the current wave of protests across multiple campuses.
Core Student Grievances
The central student complaint centers on what they view as an unjustifiable extension of the total years required to obtain a first degree. An anonymous student from Ambo University explained the cumulative impact: “We have contributed through community service during the months we spend on campus. We have supported the surrounding community in many ways. Forcing another year of service now only stretches the study period further.”
Students emphasize that the timing of the mandate fails to acknowledge their capacity to contribute productively to society. “When we have energy, when we are healthy and able to work, we want to contribute to our country by being productive,” the Ambo University student stated. “But adding another year delays our lives unnecessarily.”
The extended timeline creates compounding hardship for students whose families depend on their income after graduation. An Arsi University student articulated this economic reality: “Students are already struggling. New policies keep extending the time and financial pressure.” He noted that many families expect their children to graduate, enter the workforce, and begin supporting household finances—goals rendered impossible by the extended timeline.
Escalating Academic Timeline Concerns
Student activists have documented the cumulative effect of repeated policy changes on degree duration. An Arsi University student provided a detailed analysis of how timeline extensions have accumulated: “In previous years, a social science student needed only three years to graduate, later increased to four. Under the new directive, a student who begins with remedial courses could end up spending six years before graduation. That means spending 18 years of one’s life on schooling alone. For health science students it can reach 20.”
This escalation represents a fundamental restructuring of educational pathways and student life trajectories, creating what students describe as an unsustainable burden on both individual development and family economic security.
Educational Quality and Teacher Deployment Concerns
Beyond timeline grievances, students have raised pedagogical objections to assigning inexperienced undergraduates as teachers during the mandatory service year. An Ambo University student warned that deploying students without teaching qualifications or experience to classroom settings will further compromise educational quality at a time when Ethiopia’s education system already faces significant structural challenges.
“If the government truly values education, it should focus on strengthening teachers, not deploying inexperienced students for compulsory service,” the student argued, suggesting that the mandatory service program reflects misaligned government priorities. He emphasized that Ethiopia’s educational deficiencies stem from systemic neglect of teacher development rather than insufficient student participation in teaching roles.
Students also questioned the psychological and academic viability of requiring students to serve one year in teaching roles before returning to campus. “Forcing students to serve for one year and then return to campus raises serious questions about motivation and academic continuity,” the Ambo University student said, particularly for those already facing financial constraints or health challenges. The disruption to academic engagement and continuity creates risks of student attrition and reduced educational outcomes.
Securitized Response to Student Activism
Students report that government security forces have responded to peaceful demonstrations with intimidation tactics and physical violence. An Ambo University student disclosed that federal forces have employed “intimidation and beatings” to suppress student protests, creating an atmosphere of fear on campus.
“Every morning when students go for breakfast, they are filled with fear,” the student told investigators, describing the pervasive security presence and hostile response to peaceful assembly. The securitized approach to student dissent raises concerns about the space for legitimate democratic expression and institutional responsiveness to student grievances.
Systemic Implications and National Debate
The university service requirement has become a focal point for broader critiques of government education policy. Students contend that the accumulating policy changes reflect institutional indifference to student welfare and educational quality. An Ambo University student concluded grimly: “If this issue is not corrected, the government will show it has failed to address the needs of its citizens. This is a major setback for the country’s education system.”
The protests underscore deeper tensions between government policy objectives and student needs, raising fundamental questions about the purpose and structure of higher education in Ethiopia. As demonstrations continue to spread across campuses, the conflict between institutional mandates and student welfare demands remains unresolved.
The government has not publicly responded to specific student grievances regarding the mandatory service requirement or to documented reports of security force responses to peaceful demonstrations.
Video: This footage is embedded from the Anchor Media YouTube channel, which originally published the material.
Editor’s Note
This article is based on reporting by Addis Standard, which conducted interviews with students from Ambo University and Arsi University regarding the Ministry of Education’s mandatory national service directive. Student identities have been protected with anonymity to safeguard their security and prevent potential institutional retaliation. The article presents student perspectives, documented policy announcements by government officials, and observations regarding security force responses. For official government responses and ministry perspectives on these issues, readers should consult statements from the Ethiopian Ministry of Education. The serious allegations regarding security force conduct and student safety concerns warrant documentation by appropriate human rights monitoring organizations.
Source Attribution: This article is based on reporting and interviews conducted by Addis Standard regarding student protests across Ethiopian university campuses and the Ministry of Education’s mandatory national service policy.
