Protests Engulf Ethiopian Universities Over Mandatory National Service Directive

Ethiopia, 20 November 2025 - Universities across Ethiopia witnessed widespread protests against a new directive issued by the Education Ministry requiring all university students, starting from the 2026/27 academic year, to complete one year of national service before continuing their studies.

Students argue that the measure unnecessarily prolongs the duration of their degrees and imposes additional burdens on them.

The demonstrations, which began earlier this week, spread across several public universities, where students voiced strong opposition to what they described as a series of “harmful decisions targeting students.”Protesters said their core concern is the extension of the required time to obtain a bachelor’s degree, calling the mandatory service year “a waste of students’ time without any valid justification.”

Students also expressed concern that assigning unqualified individuals to work as teachers during the service period could negatively affect the quality of education in the country.