AN HISTORICAL SURVEY ON EDUCATION AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN OFFA WOREDA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA, 1942-1991

Abstract An historical survey of education and Educational institution in Wolaita, Offa woreda from 1942 to 1991 is the main issue of this thesis.To this end, the study mainly depends on the critical analysis of archival and secondary sources.This thesis has used the way of more descriptive rather than analytical interpretation of the sources and ithas also delivered a lot of information general wolaita and particular Offa woreda. The discussion ways of the thesis depends on the context wolaita general. This has been used shortage of arichival and secondary sources in the study area of Offa. Offa is the remotest district in wolaita compare with other area from Sodo center.As the result, the society lack of awareness for education and lack of accessibility of building education and educational institutions in the area. Both traditional or modern education and educational institutions reached to the area after two decade introducation in wolaita Sodo center. Traditional education was introduced in wolaita around 13th century. However, it was reached to Offa area around 15th century. In wolaita context modern education for the first time was introduced in 1930. But, in Offa was introduced after two decade of introduction wolaita center of Sodo town.It was introduced around in 1950. As a result of the Italian colonial occupation, those the pre-1935/36 Mission schools were closed and Italian Mission schools were set up. However,in wolaita, Offa until 1950 no school either government or non-government. The schools established before 1942 were partly opened for religious purposes. However, modern education institution for the whole masses was introduced to Wolaita when the first government school had been established in 1941/42 at Soddo town. In wolaita, Offa district the first government school was opened in1959 at Galako; it was early mission school compound. Until 1963, and modern education institutions had experienced progress and problems. From 1963-74, it saw a significant change either in general enrollment or school expansion. However, in wolaita, Offa from 1963-1974 a few school established. But the school expansion before 1974 was mainly confined to wolaita urban centers.The rapid expansion of schools had in wolaita awraja, particular in Offa from 1974 to 1984. In this period, all types of schools were established in wolaita most districts. However, in Offa no secondary school was opened in this period. In wolaita general and particular in Offa district starting from the 1985s, the expansion of modern education institutions in Wolaita including Offa had shown a slow progress. This was due to various factors. This thesis primarily focuses on surveying the history of education and educational institutions including modern education institution in Wolaita, Offa the stakeholders in its introduction, and the progress and problems encountered from its early stage to 1991.