Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education Partners With IOHk’s Cardano (ADA) for Blockchain-Based ID System

Cardano developer IOHK is collaborating with the Ethiopian government on digitalizing the country’s education system.

Blockchain ID for African Schools

The new partnership will see Cardano develop a digital ID solution to be integrated into the country's education sector.

Cardano’s CEO Charles Hoskinson tweeted that the collaboration is focused on developing a nationwide identity system based on Atala Prism. Once completed, the deployment could cover as much as 5 million students across the East African nation.

The Atala Prism decentralized identity solution will help record and monitor educational performance in 3,500 schools, including 5 million students and 750,000 teachers.

Cardano disclosed that every pupil would be given verifiable digital qualifications, increasing social mobility and ensuring that lesson plans are monitored.

The initiative will minimize bogus university applications and provide an opportunity to check the validity of students’ grades without the need of third parties.

As a result, the initiative is hoped to enhance the transparency of the grading process in Ethiopia’s education system through its “tamper-proof records.”

Ethiopia is one of the leading countries in Africa embracing digital transformation and growth. The country’s collaboration with Cardano Developer is part of its Digital Ethiopia 2025.

The Digital Transformation Strategy of the country is set to cover all sectors, including massive economic reforms and the proposed establishment of Ethiopia’s first stock market.

In the same vein, the government is making moves to provide all teachers and students with tablets and an uninterrupted internet network for instant access to their academic records.

Hoskinson has always had big plans for Cardano. He had informed Forbes of his plan to deploy the technology in the track-and-trace of smallholder agricultural supply chains and provide digital IDs for transport healthcare.

Ethiopia’s Confusing Stance on Digital Revolution

Meanwhile, some Cardano supporters are beginning to query the plausibility of the collaboration given that the Ethiopian government’s shut down of internet service in the region of Tigray still exists as a result of conflict between the region and the national government.

Nevertheless, it appears Ethiopia is not backing down on the digital revolution. Recently, the Ethiopian government engaged in a $400 million deal using blockchain technology, per Global Trade Review post.

The deal with the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank, OCP Group, led to the supply of phosphate fertilizer to Ethiopia, per the report. Interestingly, the trade finance deals that usually take weeks to be completed were actualized with the Ethiopian government in hours due to blockchain.

With the gradual adoption of technology in Ethiopia, the country may be setting the pace in Africa.

Jimmy has been following the development of blockchain for several years, and he is optimistic about its potential to democratize the financial system. When not immersed in the daily events in the crypto scene, he can be found watching legal reruns or trying to beat his Scrabble high score.