Asnakech Berhe

Pioneered literacy programs for Ethiopian women through indigenous language education

Asnakech Berhe (1916-2005) was a groundbreaking educator from Eritrea who developed Ethiopia's first literacy programs using the Amharic language. Her Britannica profile details how she created mobile schools in remote regions during the 1940s-50s, teaching over 10,000 women to read using locally produced books. Her Women's Literacy Handbook (1952) became the country's first gender-specific educational text. Berhe's 1958 radio program broadcast lessons in Tigrinya and Amharic, reaching 200,000+ listeners. She established Ethiopia's first women's university preparatory school in 1963, producing the nation's first female engineers and scientists. Her work inspired UNESCO's 1970 literacy initiatives. Berhe's legacy is preserved in the Asmara Literacy Museum, showcasing her teaching tools and manuscripts.