ADDIS ABABA – Young Lives Ethiopia has released three fact sheets detailing the latest findings from the 2023-2024 Young Lives Survey on Ethiopian youth, focusing on education and learning, health and well-being, and employment challenges.
According to Young Lives Ethiopia Country Director Alula Pankhurst (PhD), the fact sheets present critical insights into the challenges and progress in these key areas. The surveys track 3,000 children across 20 sites in Addis Ababa and five other regions: Amhara, Oromia, the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR), the new Sidama region, and Tigray.
The fact sheets highlight both progress and persistent challenges in education while primary and lower secondary school completion rates have remained stable, tertiary education enrollment has declined due to recent higher education entrance reforms. Digital Access: Despite improvements in digital connectivity, disparities persist based on socioeconomic background. Learning Outcomes: Reading comprehension among young adults has declined, even though grade progression has improved. Health and Well-being: Food security and mental well-being remain significant concerns for Ethiopian youth. Employment: Youth continue to face challenges in securing stable and meaningful employment.
Young Lives Ethiopia has called on policymakers and researchers to utilize these findings to develop evidence-based policies that improve education quality, enhance food security, promote mental health, and expand employment opportunities for young people. The findings also provide valuable insights for national strategies aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Alula emphasized that addressing these challenges requires a coordinated approach to ensure a better future for Ethiopia’s youth.
Young Lives is an international longitudinal study investigating childhood poverty and development across four countries: Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam. Since 2002, the study has tracked two cohorts of young people, providing valuable insights into their life trajectories and the factors shaping their well-being.
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 20 MARCH 2025
