Ethiopian Higher Education Entrance Certificate Examination
Amhara Professionals Union (APU) has been closely monitoring the latest developments regarding twelfth grade students who were scheduled to take Ethiopian Higher Education Entrance Examination.
APU with its partners Amhara Students Association, teachers from the region, Amhara Emergency Fund, and other individual supporters has worked to help 12th grade students whose learning was disrupted as a result of TPLF invasion and the ongoing war in the region, prepare for the qualifying examination. Just last year, the test results of qualifying young Amhara students were systemically manipulated and barred from joining higher education.
We believe a conducive environment has to be created fairly to all candidates, and students need to get due safety and protection during the exam period. Irregularities should be handled individually. particularly the government should refrain from creating a battle field environment which creates panic among candidates. It is uncharacteristic for a large number students to walk out of this decisive examination without a reason after having prepared for months.
We ask all reasonable parties, and individuals to refrain from commenting on this matter until the circumstances is reviewed and addressed by all concerned parties.
We ask FDRE MOE to refrain from crude generalizations that can be the basis for unrest and instability, and work towards peace, justice, and stability. All sides should be examined and appropriate action should be taken to resolve the student’s problem. The decision can impact large portion of young generation and families who are already impacted by the previous year sabotage, and the extended war.
As a professional association APU strongly believes in the value of education and prides itself in hard work and professionalism as the bases for positive change in our society. As such APU encourages students to make efforts to overcome challenges through the appropriate organizations such as Amhara Students Association, Teachers Associations, and local ombudsmen and ombudswomen to address their concerns and take their examinations to charter their future.
APU recognizes the multidimensionality of the problem Amhara students, and our society at large is faced with and acknowledges students to be an integral part of the solution. As such we believe in positive engagement by all parties to address the students concerns in a timely and amicable manner understanding the challenges brought by prolonged war in the region that has exposed students and their families to extreme hardship.
Amhara Professionals
Union Executive Committee.