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Today: January 26, 2025

The Development Strategies of Singapore vs. Ethiopia: A Comparative Analysis of Education and Beautification

January 26, 2025

Dr. MeKonnen Birru ([email protected])

Over the past few decades, Singapore and Ethiopia have pursued distinct paths to development. While Singapore’s transformation into a global economic powerhouse is often attributed to its focus on education, innovation, and human capital, Ethiopia has placed significant emphasis on beautification projects and large-scale infrastructure development in its push for modernity. In this article, I’ll compare and contrast these two countries’ approaches to growth, examining how each nation’s focus, education in Singapore and beautification in Ethiopia, has shaped their development and what lessons Ethiopia can learn from Singapore’s experience.

Singapore and Ethiopia are vastly different in terms of population size, land area, natural resources, and economic indicators. Singapore, with a population of around 5.7 million, is a small city-state with a land area of just 728.6 square kilometers. Despite its size, it has a highly developed and diversified economy, with a GDP per capita of approximately $65,000, making it one of the wealthiest nations globally. The country has limited natural resources, including water, relying heavily on imported water and advanced water management systems to meet its needs. On the other hand, Ethiopia, with a population of over 120 million, is the second-most populous country in Africa, and its land area spans 1.1 million square kilometers (Ethiopia’s land area is about 1,500 times larger than Singapore’s). Ethiopia is also endowed with significant natural resources, including water from major rivers like the Blue Nile, but it faces challenges in managing these resources effectively. The country’s GDP per capita stands at around $1,000, reflecting its status as one of the poorest nations in the world. Ethiopia’s economy is largely dependent on agriculture, while Singapore has successfully built a service-based, high-tech economy that drives its wealth. The stark contrasts in population size, land area, natural resources, and economic output highlight the different developmental paths and challenges faced by these two nations.

Singapore emerged as an independent nation in 1965 under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew, whose vision was central to the country’s rise. Before 1965, Singapore was a British colony. At the time of independence, Singapore faced numerous challenges: limited natural resources, a small land area, and social fragmentation. However, Lee Kuan Yew and his government saw education as the cornerstone for development. The government prioritized creating a skilled workforce capable of competing in a global economy. The country’s leadership was able to enact policies that built a stable, business-friendly environment and attracted foreign investment.

In contrast, Ethiopia’s development trajectory was shaped by its long history of political instability and decentralized governance. From the overthrow of the monarchy in 1974 to the collapse of the Derg regime in 1991, and the subsequent rise of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), Ethiopia’s political landscape has been volatile.

At the heart of Singapore’s transformation was its commitment to education. In the early years following independence, Singapore’s government recognized that its small size and lack of natural resources meant the country’s greatest asset would be its people. The government made strategic investments in education, ensuring that every citizen had access to quality schooling. This long-term investment paid off by creating a highly skilled, globally competitive workforce. From the 1970s onward, Singapore developed a robust education system focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), which allowed the country to gradually transition from a manufacturing-based economy to one that is centered around finance, technology, and innovation. Singapore’s education system became renowned worldwide for its emphasis on practical skills and nurturing talent, with the government continuously adapting policies to meet the needs of the global economy.

Moreover, Unlike EPRDF and Prosperity party in Ethiopia, Singapore did not limit its educational vision to just building schools—it integrated education with its economic strategy, focusing on producing skilled professionals in industries such as finance, biotechnology, and technology. By doing so, the country could attract high-value industries, build its financial sector, and eventually become a global hub for innovation. Just for the sake of comparison, Singapore boasts an impressive literacy rate, close to 97-99% for both men and women. From the outset, Singapore’s government made significant investments in public education, ensuring that basic education was accessible to all citizens. The government also implemented policies aimed at improving the quality of education, providing better infrastructure, and upgrading the skills of its workforce. On the other hand, Ethiopia’s literacy rate, while improving, remains significantly lower than Singapore’s. According to the World Bank, Ethiopia’s literacy rate stands at around 50-55% for adults. Also, the quality of education remains a major challenge in Ethiopia, particularly in rural areas, where access to quality schooling is more limited. For example, Singapore boasts 6 public universities with high global rankings, offering competitive salaries to professors (around $100,000-$200,000 per year), while Ethiopia has over 40 public universities, and none of them in global ranking, also professors earn much lower salaries (around $1,000-$4,000 per year), reflecting disparities in funding, quality, and economic conditions between the two countries.

Ethiopia’s recent push for development has been heavily focused on infrastructure projects and urban beautification. Addis Ababa, the capital, has undergone a dramatic transformation with new buildings, highways, and parks. The government has also initiated projects like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which is intended to boost the nation’s energy sector. While these projects enhance the country’s image and may contribute to short-term growth, they have not sufficiently addressed the deeper, structural challenges facing Ethiopia’s economy.

Singapore’s universities benefit from strong global connections, collaborative partnerships, and research funding. These institutions actively work with industries, governments, and international academic partners to drive cutting-edge research and foster innovation. The university system in Singapore is designed to prepare students for the global job market, equipping them with the skills necessary to thrive in high-tech industries, financial markets, and academic research.

The emphasis on beautification and infrastructure can attract foreign investment in certain sectors like tourism or hospitality, and it can create jobs in construction and related fields. However, the long-term success of a country’s development is heavily reliant on the quality of its human capital. Without a strong, well-educated workforce capable of sustaining and growing these industries, Ethiopia risks stagnating once the initial investment in physical infrastructure is exhausted. Singapore’s education system is renowned not just for access but for its quality, producing a workforce that is equipped to compete in advanced, high-tech industries. Education is seen as an investment in human capital that drives innovation and global competitiveness.

By prioritizing education, Singapore positioned itself as a leader in high-value sectors, attracting multinational companies and global talent. The country’s success in technology, finance, and biotech is largely a result of its investments in education and human capital. Singapore’s education system not only created a highly skilled workforce but also cultivated a culture of innovation, which enabled the country to adapt to global economic shifts and drive long-term prosperity.

In Ethiopia, the lack of investment in education and innovation has led to a slower pace of economic transformation. Although the country has seen improvements in enrollment rates, education quality remains a major challenge. Ethiopia’s education system struggles with overcrowded classrooms, underpaid teachers, and a lack of resources in rural areas. As a result, many young Ethiopians graduate with basic skills but lack the advanced education and training required for the high-value sectors that drive modern economies.

The absence of a strong focus on higher education and research limits Ethiopia’s ability to compete in technology-driven industries and innovation. While large-scale infrastructure projects are important for development, they cannot substitute the knowledge economy that is crucial for long-term growth. Ethiopia needs to prioritize the development of a skilled labor force that can fill the jobs created by infrastructure projects and contribute to innovation in sectors like manufacturing, technology, and services.

What Ethiopia Can Learn from Singapore

Prioritize Education as the Foundation of Development: Ethiopia needs to make long-term investments in education to build a workforce capable of supporting and driving growth in sectors beyond construction and infrastructure. This includes expanding access to quality primary, secondary, and higher education, as well as focusing on STEM fields to prepare students for the jobs of the future.

Build a knowledge economy: Ethiopia should follow Singapore’s example and create an environment that fosters innovation. This means supporting research institutions, incentivizing startups, and encouraging public-private partnerships in education and technology. A knowledge-based economy will not only create high-paying jobs but also help Ethiopia move up the global value chain.

Integrate Education with Economic Strategy: Just as Singapore aligned its education system with its economic goals, Ethiopia should ensure that its education system is designed to meet the needs of an evolving economy. This involves training individuals in fields that will support the industries driving the country’s future growth, such as technology, finance, and green energy.

Focus on Quality, Not Just Quantity: Ethiopia should strive to improve the quality of its education by investing in teacher training, modernizing curricula, and improving educational infrastructure. Creating a skilled workforce will enable Ethiopia to sustain and build upon the progress made through its infrastructure projects.

In conclusion, while Ethiopia’s focus on beautification and infrastructure development has brought visible changes to its cities and helped create short-term economic gains, long-term growth requires a deeper investment in human capital. Singapore’s success story shows that education, innovation, and skilled labor are the true drivers of sustainable development. For Ethiopia to follow a similar trajectory, it must prioritize education, build a knowledge-based economy, and create opportunities for its citizens to thrive in global industries. Without this shift in focus, Ethiopia risks remaining dependent on superficial projects rather than creating the deep, lasting foundations needed for real prosperity.

 

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