THE ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL DIVIDES separating rich and poor regions and the South and the North call for national and international decision-making promoting educational policies that will help all people to achieve a good life. Access to education varies hugely between Europe and Africa. For example, of a Finnish age cohort almost 100 per cent completes primary education, whereas of an Ethiopian age cohort only about 20 per cent has an opportunity to gain the primary school certificate. Nevertheless, young people both in Ethiopia and in Finland deserve the same educational opportunities.

Education and training have particular significance for the reduction of poverty and for gender equity strategies. Ethiopia is one of those developing countries that have recently carried out radical reforms of their technical and vocational education and training system. The purpose of this evaluation study is to investigate the extent of Ethiopian children’s access to educational and training services.

The evaluation study is based on data collected in Ethiopia and Finland in 2001–2002. The country evaluation mission, of which an examination of the education sector was just one part, was funded by the Department of Development Policy of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The publication’s intended audience are people interested in development through education and training, policy makers, researchers and teachers.