Wenye shahada za heshima (Honorary Doctorate) nchini Ethiopia hawataruhusiwa tena kutumia cheo cha “Daktari” nje ya chuo kilichowatunuku shahada hiyo, kwa mujibu wa mwongozo mpya ulioidhinishwa na Wizara ya Elimu.
Mwongozo huo, uliosainiwa na Waziri wa Elimu Berhanu Nega mnamo Julai 2025, pia unakataza viongozi wa serikali waliopo madarakani pamoja na wagombea wa nafasi za kisiasa kuteuliwa kwa shahada za heshima.
Aidha, vyuo vikuu vipya havitaruhusiwa kutoa shahada hizo mpaka vitakapokuwa vimehitimisha angalau makundi nane ya wahitimu na kutoa digrii za juu zaidi, kama vile PhD. Vyuo ambavyo havijafikia viwango hivyo havitaruhusiwa kabisa kutunuku shahada ya heshima. Pia vinatakiwa kuzingatia viwango vya kitaifa na kimataifa kabla ya kufanya hivyo.
Shahada za heshima zitaruhusiwa kutolewa kwa raia wa Ethiopia au wageni waliotoa mchango mkubwa katika taaluma au sekta zao. Zinaweza kutolewa kwa mtu mmoja au kikundi, waliopo hai au marehemu, iwapo tu wanakidhi vigezo vilivyowekwa.
Kifungu cha Pili, Ibara ya 10 cha mwongozo huo kinakataza wafanyakazi wa muda wote wa vyuo vikuu, wajumbe wa Seneti au viongozi wa kiutawala wa taasisi za elimu ya juu kuteuliwa kwa shahada za heshima, isipokuwa pale ambapo uhusiano wao rasmi na chuo husika umekwisha.
====For English Audience ======
Honorary doctorate holders in Ethiopia will no longer be permitted to use the title “Doctor” outside the awarding institution, under a new directive issued by the Ministry of Education.
Signed by Minister of Education Berhanu Nega in July 2025, the rules also bar serving government officials and political candidates from being nominated for honorary doctorates.
The directive further restricts recently established universities from conferring the distinction. Institutions must have graduated at least eight cohorts of students and offer third degrees, such as PhDs, before awarding honorary doctorates.
Universities, which do not meet these criteria, are prohibited from granting the title. Institutions must also comply with both national and international standards before doing so.
Honorary doctorates may be awarded to Ethiopian or foreign nationals who have made significant contributions to their professional fields. They can be granted to individuals or groups, living or deceased, if they meet the stated criteria.
Under Section Two, Article 10, the directive prohibits nominations for full-time employees, Senate members or administrative staff of higher education institutions, unless their direct relationship with the institution has ended.