A HISTORY OF MODERN EDUCATION IN KAFFA ZONE (1927 – 1991)

ABSTRACT In view of the current education problems and the resulting deterioration of the quality of education in our country today, the study of its development in order to alleviate the existing problems is important. The study of the History of one such educational development together with a cloth assessment of its weakness and strengths can, therefore, contribute to planning, setting up, organizing and managing similar systems in future. It is in recognition of these basic facts that I decided to write my thesis on the establishment and development of modern education in Kaffa zone. In writing the paper, information about the educational system was not so easy to come by. As the management and ownership of missionary education schools changed hands, found in one place. Some materials found in the hands of individuals and it enabled me to start on. I also travelled to places such as Muti, Dekiya, Shapaand Wushiwush in such of documents. Informants were the missionary schools were first started. No substantial documents were found in those areas. Yet first hand informants were there. I was able consult some important documents at Barta school and in the Kaffa Awuraja educational office. More documents and informants were found in Bonga where I started writing this thesis. The thesis is being divided in to four chapters. Chapter one deals with a Geographical and Historical survey of Kaffa and the missionary education as the basis for further expansion of modern education in the region. Chapter two, which constitutes the major part of the paper, deals with the early attempts to establish a modern public education and with the development and expansion of schools. Some early shortcomings were discussed and assessed. In chapter three, the history of educational office of Kaffa Awuraja from its foundation, its development and linkage with schools and in society that passed through stages of administrative discussed. In chapter four, the non-formal system, its shortcomings and the basis of the community traditions were critically analyzed. In the concluding part the main themes of the paper were summarized did not claim to have made an exhaustive study the subject. The research is merely a guide and stepping stone for further research in the area.