The Northern Ethiopia Armed Conflict and the Unusual Decline of Grade 12 Students' Result in Amhara Region

The Secondary School Leaving Examination, which is administered at the completion of grade 12 is the only criterion that determines admittance of students into the University. Students from Amhara Region; who have been under pressure of the Northern Ethiopian Armed Conflict, have scored unusual low entry marks which have yet given acceptable reply. This article aimed at exploring the nature of appeal system in Ethiopia, the issues of accountability and legitimacy of the Ministry of Education. Situational analysis of qualitative research approach is employed in this study. The study found out that there is no clear and trusted appeal system which inclusively and effectively provides response to the complaints. Besides, the ethnic politics of the country sadly spoils the education system and not everyone stands for the right of students, but only those who do have ethnic affiliations. © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2022.