We, the undersigned citizens, educators, students, professionals, and concerned Ethiopians, firmly oppose any proposal to lower university passing standards below 50%. We believe that true equity in education is achieved not by reducing expectations, but by strengthening support systems that enable all students to meet rigorous, meaningful benchmarks.

Lowering academic standards in the name of “access” is not equity—it is a dangerous illusion. History has shown that when societies sacrifice quality for the appearance of inclusion, it is the most vulnerable who suffer most. Everywhere it has been tried, the promise of lifting the disadvantaged through diminished standards has instead trapped them in cycles of underachievement, credential inflation, and lost opportunity.

Ethiopia stands at a critical crossroads. Our youth deserve degrees that carry weight—locally and globally—not paper credentials that mask unpreparedness. A 50% passing mark is not an arbitrary barrier; it is a foundational threshold that signals basic mastery of subject matter and readiness for professional or academic advancement.

We reject the notion that fairness means lowering the bar. True fairness means:

• Investing in better primary and secondary education,
• Providing robust teacher training and curriculum support,
• Creating bridging and remedial programs for struggling learners,
• Offering diverse learning pathways that maintain high expectations.

To lower standards now would not only erode the credibility of Ethiopian higher education but also betray the aspirations of millions of young Ethiopians who work tirelessly to succeed through merit and effort.

We solemnly warn against reviving the ghosts of failed ideologies. Communism once derailed Ethiopia’s progress by substituting equality of outcome for equality of opportunity—and the nation paid a heavy price. We must not allow its shadow to return through policies that disguise decline as compassion.

Therefore, we demand that the Ethiopian Ministry of Education and all higher education institutions:

1. Maintain the university passing mark at 50%,
2. Reject any policy that compromises academic rigor in the name of access,
3. Redirect efforts toward systemic improvements that empower students to meet high standards, and
4. Publicly affirm that excellence and equity are not opposites—but partners in national development.

Let us build an education system worthy of Ethiopia’s future—one that lifts every student to the standard, not one that drags the standard down to meet failure.

Sign below to defend quality, merit, and the future of Ethiopian education.