Education and Educational Institutions in the Town of Boditi : An Historical Survey

Abstract This study focused on the historical survey on the development of Modern education and educational institution in Boditi town since the establishment of the town in 1950s. The study used both primary and secondary data sources. The primary sources used are archival sources, discussion with an eye witness and interviews of the informants. As secondary sources, educational institution, schools, colleges, universities, and documents reports, books, magazines, dissertations, thesis, Journals and other published and unpublished materials were used. Analyzed data were described using both qualitative and quantitative statistics. It was found that traditional education in Boditi town takes place in school and off school system, in the pre and during the imperial regime like other places. It was dominated by the Ethiopian Orthodox church in teaching alphabets and while wisdom, skills, traditions and moral values of society using oral literatures. In the establishment of modern education the imperial regime showed due emphasis through introducing 30% educational tax on land and allow non-governmental organizations to take part in the sector though the number is limited to four primary school. The major emphasis was given to the primary and secondary education which is more than 85%. Literacy campaign was one of the brilliant approach that increase the literacy rate by more than 50% that contribute to the expansion of modern education. There were limitations in the regime with quality as a result of some expansion but their contribution in education to the rural parts of the country and access of educational opportunity for all was significant. After the fall of Derg regime there were policy changes like change of the school level organization, language of education and scripts, allowing non-governmental institutions to participate in the sector which made a significant role in the educational system. The expansion of modern education during this regime was very great, regardless of the quality related problems. In Boditi town there was a big change in number of schools especially in preschool level (K.G). The educational policy plays a great role through allowing private individuals and institutions to participate in the educational sector, which was the major bottleneck during the Derg regime. Hence in the last 70 years, since the foundation of the town efforts made towards the expansion of modern education by government and non-governmental organizations were considerable. The new education policy played the greatest role in the expansion of Education and its educational institutions.