BAHIR DAR, Aug. 25 (AGCNewsNet) –- Ethiopia's Amhara region launched a massive school registration campaign on Sunday targeting 7.4 million student enrollments for the new academic year, as conflict and insecurity continue to keep millions of children out of classrooms across the war-torn region.

The Regional State Education Bureau plans to enroll 7.4 million students for the 2025/2026 academic year, which begins on Sept. 16, according to education officials.

The drive comes as 4.4 million children in Amhara did not attend school last year, representing the highest number among Ethiopia's regions, according to data from the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF.

"Over the past two years, armed conflict and insecurity have prevented millions of students from returning to classrooms," education officials said. They added that climate change impacts including floods and drought have also severely challenged the region's education system.

The regional government has allocated substantial resources to train over 10,000 teachers and school leaders, while more than 24,000 other educators have received training through the Ministry of Education, according to the bureau.

However, significant obstacles remain. More than 3,600 schools in Amhara remained closed as of March 2025 due to insecurity, according to education officials. Teachers and school leaders continue to face threats including kidnapping, murder and displacement, they said.

The bureau estimates $800 million is needed to repair schools damaged by years of conflict and resume educational activities, according to officials.

The education crisis extends beyond Amhara's borders. Over nine million children nationwide are out of school due to conflict, displacement, natural disasters and economic hardships, according to UNICEF's January 2025 report.

More than 6,000 schools remain closed across Ethiopia, with over 10,000 damaged or destroyed, according to the UN agency.

Out-of-school children face numerous vulnerabilities including involuntary labor, substance abuse and depression, according to research. Girls are particularly at risk of forced marriages and early pregnancy, studies show.

Concerned parents have launched grassroots campaigns using slogans such as "No child should be out of school" and "Building tomorrow through education today," according to community leaders.

The registration campaign runs from Aug. 25 to Sept. 5, with classes scheduled to begin on Sept. 16, according to the education bureau.

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