New Textbooks to Help Ethiopian Students Improve English Language and Reading Skills

Three of the 5.5 million English language textbooks, developed and published with USAID assistance, for students
Pictured here are three of the 5.5 million English language textbooks, developed and published with USAID assistance, for students in grades 2, 3 and 4 in more than 28,000 Ethiopian schools nationwide.
Robert Sauers/USAID Ethiopia

For Immediate Release

Thursday, November 29, 2012
U.S. Embassy
+251-111-30-70-33

USAID Ethiopia Mission Director Dennis Weller presented to Ethiopia’s State Minister of Education, Fuad Ibrahim, 5.5 million English language textbooks for primary school children in grades 2, 3, and 4 at a handover ceremony on November 29 at the Ministry of Education. USAID’s Textbooks and Learning Materials Program (TLMP) developed the textbooks in cooperation with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education. USAID printed the large amount of textbooks in order to allow every child in grades 2, 3, and 4 to have access to the learning material. Previously, USAID has developed, printed, and donated English textbooks for other primary school grades.

“These books will serve to improve the English language skills of students in grades 2 to 4 in over 28,000 Ethiopian schools nationwide, in support of the Ministry of Education’s General Education Quality Improvement Program,” said Weller.

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University collaborated on textbook design, development, and production with the Ethiopian Ministry of Education. The English textbooks are fully aligned with Ethiopia’s national curricula, culturally relevant to the Ethiopian context, and incorporate everyday themes, such as gender sensitivity and equity, hygiene, HIV/AIDS, and community responsibility.

“This partnership between the government and people of Ethiopia and the government and people of the United States to improve basic education started when USAID first came to Ethiopia 50 years ago, during which time the U.S. Government has contributed to increasing access to primary schools, especially for children in hard to reach areas and girls, improving the quality of education, building the capacity of teachers, strengthening partnerships between the school and community, and enabling females to complete secondary and higher education,” said Mission Director Weller.

The symbolic presentation ceremony was held at the Ministry of Education in Addis Ababa, and was presided over by State Minister Fuad Ibrahim and attended by Regional Education Bureau heads along with officials from the Ministry of Education and USAID Ethiopia. The book donation is valued at almost six million U.S. dollars.

See Also

Press Release [PDF, 62 KB]

Mission Director Dennis Weller Remarks [PDF]

Related Resources

USAID Ethiopia: Education