Behind the 74% pass rate are 1,600 stories. Here's one of them.

There is a reason we call this "The Pink School." This is the school Worknesh attends.

One Student, One Moment

Worknesh's hands shook as she stood in line with her classmates, waiting to see if her name appeared on the pass list. For weeks, she'd struggled with subjects that felt impossible to master. The national exam was coming, and she knew that failure meant the end of her education. When she joined the Saturday tutorial program (10 intensive sessions right before the exam), things shifted. Teachers broke down complex topics into smaller pieces. For the first time, subjects that had seemed impossible made sense. The day results were posted, Worknesh scanned the list. Then she saw it: her name. She'd passed.

She shared, "My teachers helped me so much. Me and my friends went every Saturday, even when the rain was pouring. I can't believe I had this chance and I made it to high school!"

Worknesh works through problems as a local Education Office official observes the tutoring session. Officials visit to verify the program is running as promised.

What It Actually Costs

Worknesh's transformation cost $9. That's the full amount needed to provide tutorial support for one student for 10 Saturday sessions right before the national exam.

Why It Matters

When girls like Worknesh continue to Grade 9, research shows they're more likely to delay marriage, earn higher incomes throughout their lives, and invest in their own children's education. Each additional year of secondary education in Ethiopia increases lifetime earning potential by 10%.

This year's results represent more than 1,100 students who will continue their education. That's 1,100 young people whose lives took a different path because they received extra support at the right moment.

But thousands more students across rural Ethiopia still face the same odds: learning half-day curriculum, preparing for high-stakes exams, and needing a small amount of additional support to succeed.

Worknesh and her teacher who tutored on Saturdays.

Support More Students Like Worknesh

The question isn't whether tutorial programs work. The data shows it is working. It's an annual project that matters to kids and schools. 

You can help kids like Worknesh. Here's how:  Support the 8th Grade Tutoring Program

Every student who passes the Grade 8 National Exam carries forward their own dreams and the hopes of their families and communities. Your support (whether through giving or sharing) helps make those dreams reality.