
Viewpoints | May 23,2021
The crucial role education plays in supporting a competitive economy was not lost on policymakers. With a strong emphasis on the natural sciences, efforts were made to improve primary and secondary-level enrollment in schools and boost the proportion of university graduates across the country.
A remarkable job of this was done through aggressive spending on social capital, especially in the expansion and establishment of higher-learning institutions. Over 100,000 university graduates are expected to enter the labour market this year alone, graduating from no less than 42 public universities.
Unfortunately, productivity did not increase by any measurable means. Lack of skilled labour force remained one of the most consistently cited reasons for Ethiopia’s lack of economic competitiveness. The World Bank noted, in its 1988 report in Ethiopia economy, lack of productivity is what had ailed growth. It echoed the same conclusion in its report in 2018. Worse, as large swaths of university-graduates remained unemployed or under-employed, and expectations turned into frustrations, the economic ailment has transformed into a political crisis.
PUBLISHED ON
Jan 05,2020 [ VOL
20 , NO
1028]
Viewpoints | May 23,2021
Obituary | Oct 17,2020
Commentaries | Jun 11,2022
Editorial | Apr 13,2024
Commentaries | Aug 08,2020
Dec 22 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Charged with transforming colossal state-owned enterprises into modern and competitiv...
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
Jul 28 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Unhabitual, perhaps too many, Samuel Gebreyohannes, 38, used to occasionally enjoy a couple of beers at breakfast. However, he recently swit...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transporting commodities, and f...
Jul 5 , 2025
Six years ago, Ethiopia was the darling of international liberal commentators. A year...
Jun 28 , 2025
Meseret Damtie, the assertive auditor general, has never been shy about naming names...
Jun 21 , 2025
A well-worn adage says, “Budget is not destiny, but it is direction.” Examining t...
Jun 14 , 2025
Yet again, the Horn of Africa is bracing for trouble. A region already frayed by wars...