On Nehasie 20/2017 E.C., during a forum prepared on the implementation of the re-registration conducted on private higher education institutions providing services in Addis Ababa under the Ethiopian Education and Training Authority, the Minister of Education, Professor Birhanu Nega, stated that operating educational services solely for profit damages the country.

It was emphasized that the government has been focusing on ensuring the quality of education over the past years of reform and, based on completed studies, private higher education institutions that do not meet the minimum quality standards in the conducted and upcoming audits will be removed from the education system.

It was highlighted that higher education institutions should play their role in the country’s sustainable development by aligning with the country’s current and future needs as well as global realities and leading accordingly.

Professor Birhanu also noted that the competency assessment work initiated on private higher education institutions will similarly be applied practically to government institutions without any exemption.

Dr. Ahmed Abtew, Director General of the Education and Training Authority, mentioned that during discussions with private higher education institutions about re-registration and its necessity, some institutions that utilized the additional time given to meet the required standards showed improvements.

The Head of Licensing and Accreditation at the Education and Training Authority, Executive Director W/ro Hayat Asfa, stated that re-registered institutions should not collaborate with unrelated commercial entities, must operate following legal administrative procedures, should teach in their own buildings or fully rented buildings, update their documents based on the new quality standards, adjust teacher training and infrastructure to the required level, and focus on research, community service, and institutional development to have an effective administrative system.

During the forum, owners and leaders of private higher education institutions presented questions, and senior officials provided responses to the raised inquiries.