What Every Parent Really Asks in Children Education

What Every Parent Really Asks in Children Education

Jul 31 , 2026. By Eden Sahle ( Eden Sahle is founder and CEO of Yoda Technology Plc. She has studied law with a focus on international economic law. She can be reached at edensah2000@gmail.com. )

Priced out of private schools and wary of public ones, some parents are turning to homeschooling. The country should regulate it, not ignore it, while it rebuilds trust in schools for everyone.

Every parent shares the dream of seeing their children grow into knowledgeable, responsible and successful adults. Education is the foundation of that dream.

Yet for many families across Addis Abeba today, choosing the right school has become one of the most stressful and expensive decisions they would ever make. The rising cost of private education, doubts about the quality of education provided by public schools and fears about harmful influences have left many families feeling there are no ideal choices.

Private schools are often seen as offering high-quality academic opportunities, but the fees, frequently more than one million Birr a year, can overwhelm the income of an ordinary household. Once uniforms, books, transport, meals and extracurriculars are added, the total moves far beyond the reach of most.

Even private kindergartens now ask more than half a million Birr, putting quality early education out of many families' hands.

Public education remains the most accessible option for millions of Ethiopian children. However, parents and former students keep raising concerns about overcrowded classrooms, shortages of materials, uneven learning outcomes and weak school management.

Recently, at an event, I listened to several parents discuss education. Most had attended public schools themselves, yet not one planned to send their own children to a public school. That loss of confidence makes an important point that public trust in the system has to be rebuilt.

Another worry is the environment children meet outside the classroom. Teachers, parents and communities talk more and more about substance abuse, bullying, and unhealthy influences on the young. Every family wants reassurance that a school protects children academically, socially and emotionally.

Schools cannot solve every social problem alone. Families, communities and policymakers all share the task of creating places where children can thrive. Strengthening school counselling, deepening community engagement and enforcing the laws against drug trafficking near schools should all be national priorities.

Faced with these pressures, some Ethiopian parents have begun to explore homeschooling, despite the absence of a legal framework. Many buy internationally recognised curricula, often from the United States (US) or the United Kingdom (UK). They teach their children at home while preparing them for international examinations that may open doors to universities abroad.

Homeschooling demands extraordinary commitment. Parents pour in money, devote countless hours to teaching and often sacrifice their careers. Some even decide against more children because they cannot afford to school or eventually support them abroad.

Homeschooling is certainly not right for every family. It calls for educated and committed parents, careful planning, structured learning and consistent assessment. It needs chances for children to socialise through sport, music, the arts, volunteering and community life. Even so, it deserves recognition as one legitimate educational option.

Many countries have shown that homeschooling can coexist with strong public and private systems. In the United States, it is legal in all 50 states, though the rules differ, with parents generally required to follow state requirements. Canada allows it with families often receiving curriculum guidance while keeping considerable flexibility. The United Kingdom permits home education provided local authorities may make inquiries where there are concerns. Australia recognises it, using registration, curriculum expectations and periodic reviews to hold standards. New Zealand allows it through an exemption in which parents show they can provide education comparable to a registered school's.

These examples illustrate a single principle that parental choice and government accountability can work together. Homeschooling need not mean the absence of standards. Governments set clear expectations while leaving parents flexibility in how they meet them.

Ethiopia could build a similarly balanced system. Parents wishing to homeschool could register, present an educational plan, keep attendance and learning records, and have their children sit periodic assessments or national examinations, with education authorities monitoring progress while respecting the family's choice. Such a system would protect a child's right to a quality education while ensuring accountability.

Recognising homeschooling should never dilute the government's commitment to public education. Public schools remain the backbone of any country’s system and should continue to receive investment in teacher training, classrooms, technology, libraries, laboratories, and student welfare. Every Ethiopian child deserves an excellent education, whatever the family's status.

Parents also value the opportunity to pass on their moral values, culture and faith. Families have long treated character as an essential part of education alongside mathematics, science, languages, and the arts. Schools, families and communities should work together to raise children who are knowledgeable, compassionate, responsible and respectful of others.

Ultimately, this is all a question of trust. Parents want confidence that their children will receive a high-quality education, schools that prepare students for university, work and citizenship, and environments that encourage discipline, curiosity, critical thinking and good character.

Reform should not become a contest between public schools and private ones, or between classrooms and homeschooling. Ethiopia needs strong public schools, affordable and high-quality private schools, and a carefully regulated homeschooling option for families able to take it on.

Today's children will shape the country's future, and investing in education is not merely spending on schools. It is investing in the future productive force. By modernising policy, embracing responsible innovation, and empowering parents while holding high standards, Ethiopia can build a system fit for the 21st century.

Every child deserves the chance to learn, flourish and reach their fullest potential. Giving families carefully regulated choices while strengthening schools for everyone may be among the wisest investments the country can make for generations to come.

PUBLISHED ON Jul 31,2026 [ VOL 27 , NO 1370]