Education inequalities in Ethiopia: a macro-level analysis and its policy implications

Globally, inequalities in educational provision prevail among genders, various geographical regions and different socioeconomic backgrounds. Consequently, this study aimed to assess the level of disparity among the Federal Regional States of Ethiopia using the Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve based on statistical data obtained from the MoE. Additionally, data were collected from 656 respondents in the sampled regions. The results of the Gini coefficient indicated that disparity in educational provision has decreased over the past couple of decades, both at primary (0.145–0.032) and secondary levels (0.277–0.126). However, emerging regions significantly lag behind the central and established regions. The sources of variation were primarily demand-side variables, particularly economic and contextual factors such as drought and conflicts. Therefore, educational policies designed at the central (macro) level are advised to adopt a multi-model approach and develop tailored strategies to address the existing inequalities through an equitable provision of the education system. Copyright © 2024 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.