Meta-analysis of the journey of education of persons with disabilities in Ethiopia: From church to classroom

Pages: 273-277
Zelalem Temesgen (Department of Inclusive Education, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia)
Sewalem Tsega (Department of Special Needs Education, Special Needs Support Office, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia)

The purpose of this metha analytic review is to map the journey of education of persons with disabilities in Ethiopia. Metha analysis of about twenty reviews were done to provide a more comprehensive description of a phenomenon and generating analytical themes that emerge from and step beyond the descriptive themes. This could be the basis for development so long as persons with disability are effectively included in the education agenda. The journey is from mountainous churches where students attend Orthodox Church education (theology instruction) under trees and in small huts to fenced and relatively favorable classrooms. Ethiopians experience less inclusion today than previously within the earlier Christian education system under the Orthodox Church, which did not discriminate based on ability/disability. All students learned by encircling their church education teacher (“Yenetta”) at the centre. The teacher “Yenetta” being within the circle, instructs each learner according to his/her learning pace. The system didn’t allow someone’s ability to influence the other learner. Hence, all learners learn according to their own velocity. The purpose of this article is to highlight professionals in the field of special needs education about the nature of the delivery of early church education for persons with disabilities, how it was associated with early Christianity and to make comparison between the historical development of special needs education in Europe and ancient Ethiopia.