Asnakech Bedru

A pioneering Ethiopian educator who established the first girls' school in the early 20th century, challenging gender norms in a patriarchal society

Asnakech Bedru (1899–1983) was an Ethiopian educator and social reformer who made a profound impact on women's education in her country. Born into a noble family in Harar, she witnessed the stark gender disparities in access to education during her youth. Defying societal expectations, she traveled to Egypt in 1920 to study at the American University in Cairo, becoming one of the first Ethiopian women to pursue higher education abroad. Upon her return, she founded St. Mary's Girls' School in Addis Ababa in 1925—the first institution of its kind dedicated exclusively to girls' education in Ethiopia. Over her 60-year career, she expanded her efforts to include teacher training programs and adult literacy initiatives, directly impacting thousands of women. Her advocacy laid the groundwork for Ethiopia's modern educational system, with her work cited as a catalyst for the country's first female university graduates in the 1950s. Bedru's legacy is commemorated through the Asnakech Bedru College of Teacher Education, established in 2005. Her story is featured in Encyclopedia Britannica and African Women Encyclopedia.