Militant Group Orders Reopening of Ethiopian Schools After Three-Year Ban
Bahir Dar, 7 September 2026
Fano militants, who previously banned education, have ordered schools under their control in Ethiopia’s Amhara region to reopen this September, ending a devastating three-year shutdown.
A Dramatic Policy Shift Amid Prolonged Conflict
In a notable shift in local administrative policy, the Amhara Fano National Movement (AFNM), specifically through its Tewodros II Command, has issued official directives to resume formal education in areas under its control starting in September 2026 [1][2]. This decision marks the end of a devastating three-year ban on schooling imposed by the militant group, which has heavily disrupted rural communities across Ethiopia’s Amhara region [1][2]. Fano leaders are now actively campaigning, urging local teachers to return and encouraging parents to register their children for the upcoming academic term [1].
The Devastating Toll of Educational Disruption
The prolonged suspension of educational activities has left deep scars on the region’s youth, with millions of children entirely shut out of the school system [1]. According to data from the Amhara Regional Education Bureau, during the 2017 Ethiopian calendar year, only 2.8 million out of 7.2 million eligible students were able to attend classes, representing a return rate of approximately 38.889 per cent [1]. Although this figure marginally improved in the 2018 academic year to 3.96 million out of 7.4 million students, or 53.514 per cent, the vast majority of children have effectively lost three consecutive years of development [1].
Severe Infrastructural and Security Hurdles
Despite the militant group’s directive, local educators and residents remain deeply concerned about the physical safety of returning students and staff [1]. Over 6,000 schools in the region have been damaged or destroyed due to the northern war and subsequent local clashes [1]. Both government forces and Fano militants have historically utilised educational institutions as military camps, leaving many structures partially or completely ruined [1][2]. Teachers report that while direct threats and intimidation from militants have subsided, the continued presence of armed forces and military equipment inside or near school grounds presents an ongoing security hazard [1].
Cross-Border Implications for Displaced Communities
This sudden shift in the Amhara region’s security and administrative landscape is being monitored closely beyond Ethiopia’s borders, particularly by refugees in Kenya’s Kakuma and Kalobeyei camps [GPT]. For these displaced populations, the restoration of basic services such as education and the potential stabilisation of local security are critical factors in evaluating the safety of their home communities and assessing future prospects for voluntary repatriation [GPT]. However, United Nations reports from July and August 2026 highlight that over 9 million children remain out of school across Ethiopia, with approximately half of the nation’s displaced children concentrated in the conflict-ridden Amhara region, signalling that the road to recovery remains incredibly steep [1].