Ethiopia: Tigray Education Bureau Decries 'Pattern of Drone Destruction'

What the report says

The Tigray Education Bureau in Ethiopia says a wave of air and drone strikes in 2026 has worsened damage to schools, teacher housing and other education facilities in the region, just as the new academic year approaches. In a statement issued in Mekelle on 27 August and reported by Addis Standard, the bureau accused the federal government of intensifying attacks that it said were aimed at disrupting the reopening of schools.

The bureau said several incidents this year had affected education directly. It cited a January strike that destroyed classrooms and water facilities at Zalaqme Primary School in Kola Tembien, an 10 August drone strike that damaged Merewa General Secondary School in Raya Alamata, and a 20 August attack on teachers’ housing in Mekelle that injured teachers and family members. It also reported a 26 August strike on Gejet General Secondary School in Seharti woreda, including damage to classrooms and computers. The bureau said another school was hit after its statement was released.

Beyond the physical damage, the bureau alleged that teachers’ salaries have been withheld since October 2025 and criticized changes to Grade 12 exams for students in Tigray. It said the region’s education system remains weakened by the legacy of the war, displacement and economic hardship, with many schools still damaged or repurposed. Addis Standard reported that federal authorities had not commented by publication time.

The bureau urged international organizations and the wider public to intervene, support repairs and reconstruction, and help prevent further disruption to schooling in Tigray.