Overview of the General Education System

Eritrea’s education system reflects its complex political and historical evolution. Eritrea, located in northeastern Africa on the Red Sea, has a rich history dating back to 3500 BC, with evidence of ancient civilizations. The region was controlled by various countries and empires, and became an Italian colony in 1885.

After World War II, it was administered by the British, and a UN resolution in 1952 formed a federation with Ethiopia. In 1962, Emperor Haile Selassie annexed Eritrea, leading to a long struggle for independence. This struggle culminated in the establishment of a provisional government in May 1991 and a successful vote for independence in April 1993, officially granted on May 24, 1993.

The country adopted a 7-4-4 structure, composed of seven years of basic education (including two years of preschool and five years of elementary and middle school), four years of secondary education, and four years of tertiary or higher education. English is the medium of instruction from middle school onwards, while Tigrinya and Arabic serve as administrative and commercial languages.

The system is overseen by the Ministry of Education, which manages policy formulation, curricular reform, teacher development, and research activities in partnership with domestic and international institutions. Education in Eritrea is officially free and compulsory at the basic level. The Ministry’s approach emphasizes inclusive education, TVET expansion, and the development of localized curricula.

Pre-primary education, though not universally accessible, is available in urban centers like Asmara through preschools and community caregiver centers. Primary and middle schools make up the bulk of enrollment, with approximately 594,000 students enrolled in 2018, 347,000 (58%) of whom were in primary education. Completion rates in 2019 showed 60% of boys and 52% of girls finishing primary school. Lower secondary completion rates stood at 50% for boys and 52% for girls.

However, the quality of learning remains a concern for in the same year, only 46% of Grade 3 students met the minimum literacy benchmarks, and just 38% demonstrated mastery in numeracy. Following COVID-19 school closures, the percentage of students passing the Grade 8 assessment dropped sharply from 60% to 40%.

Most schools in Eritrea are public, although religious and community-run schools also operate under the Ministry's guidelines. The country has introduced special education pilot programs, such as the inclusive classroom at Daerit Elementary School, to accommodate learners with disabilities.

Eritrea’s national curriculum emphasizes a thematic, holistic learning model. The literacy rate was recorded at 58.6% in 2018, though the youth literacy rate stood significantly higher at 87%, outpacing many other low-income countries. Despite progress, systemic challenges persist, including limited teacher supply, rural-urban disparities in access, and low transition to tertiary education as the enrollment rate in higher education was just 4% for men and 3% for women in 2016.

Compulsory education in Eritrea spans the basic education cycle, and covers children between the ages of six and 14. It includes two years of preschool, five years of elementary school, and three years of middle school. While early childhood education is not mandated, it is encouraged by the Ministry of Education through preschools and community caregiver centers, particularly in urban areas such as Asmara.

Pre-primary programs are targeted at children aged four to five, which emphasize foundational development in language, social skills, and cognition. However, accessibility remains uneven, particularly in rural regions.

The formal education process begins with elementary school, which runs from Grades 1 to 5. At this stage, instruction is delivered in the child's mother tongue, typically Tigrinya, Tigre, or another local language, depending on the region. This practice ensures linguistic inclusion and accessibility during the foundational years. Middle school, which spans Grades 6 to 8, marks the transition to English as the language of instruction, a policy implemented nationally to prepare students for higher academic and professional engagement. This phase concludes the compulsory education cycle and is critical for building core academic skills.

Furthermore, Eritrea has invested in inclusive education, special education initiatives, and community-based learning models. For example, pilot programs like the inclusive classroom at Daerit Elementary are designed to integrate children with various disabilities. While these efforts signal a commitment to equity, achieving universal access and quality remains an ongoing challenge for the Eritrean education system.

Higher education in Eritrea is composed of universities, colleges, and technical or vocational institutes, all coordinated under the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health (in the case of medical programs). Entry to tertiary institutions is contingent on performance in the Eritrean Secondary Education Certificate Examination (ESECE) and, in many cases, additional entrance exams. Following secondary school, students who qualify are admitted into programs leading to diplomas, bachelor's degrees, or professional doctorates, depending on the field of study and institution.

Eritrea has two main universities, the University of Asmara and the Eritrean Institute of Technology. The University of Asmara, founded in 1958 by the Catholic Church, was originally a school for expatriate Italian girls but has since evolved into a prominent national institution. The Eritrean Institute of Technology offers degrees in sciences, engineering, and education, serving as a hub for technical advancement.

Tertiary institutions in Eritrea also include the Orotta School of Medicine, which offers a six-year Doctor of Medicine program. Admission to Orotta requires five ESECE passes and a passing score on a national entrance exam. Additionally, various colleges offer degrees in nursing, agriculture, business, and social sciences.

The enrollment rate in higher education remains low, at 4% for men and 3% for women as of 2016, largely due to academic competition, limited capacity, and barriers to access in rural areas. Tertiary institutions follow a four-year undergraduate model, with some technical and nursing programs offering shorter diplomas.

Governance and accreditation are centralized, with curriculum design, faculty development, and infrastructure investments overseen by the Ministry of Education. While the sector remains underdeveloped relative to global standards, Eritrea has begun expanding its research capacity and aligning higher education more closely with national labor needs.