About

Biography

Sisay Bezabih Alemu

Dr. Sisay Bezabih Alemu is an education specialist based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with more than 20 years of experience in English language education, teacher education, curriculum development, education policy and capacity building. His career runs from the classroom through teacher training and national curriculum reform to sector-wide planning.

At Ethiopia's Federal Ministry of Education he has worked as Communication Officer (2013 to 2015), Senior English Language Curriculum Development Expert (2016 to 2017) and Senior English Language Development Expert (2017 to 2021). In that last role he developed guidelines, strategies and frameworks for nationwide English language programmes, coordinated the English Language Improvement Program and the English Language Improvement Centers (ELICs), and led training of trainers for English teachers. From 2014 to 2021 he was the national focal person for the World Bank-funded General Education Quality Improvement Project (GEQIP I & II), planning and allocating project funds for the directorate, the regions, colleges of teacher education and universities and monitoring how they were used. He also contributed to the preparation of the Education Sector Development Programme VI (ESDP VI, 2020/21 to 2024/25), including capacity development sessions with UNESCO-IIEP in Paris. Since October 2025 he has worked as a College of Teacher Education Accreditation and Renewal Expert, developing standards and assessment tools and carrying out accreditation and renewal assessments.

He worked with USAID's READ TA project (RTI International) on the review and revision of the Grades 1 to 8 English curriculum and materials, has trained teachers and trainers for the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz regional education bureaus and the Ministry of Education, and mentored new Peace Corps English teachers. Earlier he taught English at Lideta Catholic Cathedral School in Addis Ababa, where he was assistant head of the English department, and lectured at Royal College in Adama.

Dr. Sisay holds a Doctor of Education (PhD) in TEFL, an MEd in TEFL and a BEd in English Language Teaching and Literature, all from Bahir Dar University. His doctoral research on teacher educators' mediation and learner autonomy in EFL reading was published in PLOS ONE in 2026. He reviews manuscripts for Ethiopian and international journals. A native Amharic speaker with C2 (proficient user) English, he translates, edits and interprets between English and Amharic.

How I work

I work as a practitioner-researcher. Every assignment starts from the context of the learners and teachers it is meant to serve, uses evidence to guide decisions, and ends with results, materials and skills that the client's own staff can keep using after the assignment is over.

Languages

  • AmharicNative language
  • EnglishProficient user: C2 in listening, reading, speaking and writing
Career

Professional experience

  1. Oct 2025 to present
    Current

    College of Teacher Education Accreditation and Renewal Expert

    Ministry of Education, Ethiopia · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Accreditation, licensing and renewal of colleges of teacher education.

    • Develops and reviews accreditation, licensing and renewal standards, guidelines and assessment tools for teacher education colleges
    • Conducts institutional accreditation and renewal assessments against national quality assurance standards
    • Monitors implementation of accreditation requirements and recommends quality improvement measures
    • Prepares technical reports, policy documents and quality assurance guidelines for evidence-based decisions
    • Trains education professionals on accreditation and quality assurance
  2. Apr 2021 to Aug 2025

    Doctoral Researcher in TEFL

    Bahir Dar University · Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Doctoral research on teacher educators' mediation and learner autonomy in EFL reading.

    • Quasi-experimental, mixed-methods study with 80 first-year students at Kotebe University of Education
    • Findings published in PLOS ONE (2026) and presented at national and international conferences
    • Representative of the PhD cohort: coordinated research discussions and organized academic events
  3. Aug 2017 to Mar 2021

    Senior English Language Development Expert

    Ministry of Education, Ethiopia · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    • Developed guidelines, strategies and frameworks for nationwide English language programmes
    • Coordinated the English Language Improvement Program and the English Language Improvement Centers (ELICs)
    • Led training of trainers (ToT) for English teachers
    • Wrote proposals for large-scale language education initiatives
    • Monitored and evaluated programme implementation across regions
  4. Nov 2014 to Jul 2021

    National Focal Person, GEQIP I & II and ESDP VI

    Ministry of Education, Ethiopia · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Designated national focal person for the World Bank-funded General Education Quality Improvement Project in the Mother Tongue and English Language Education Development Directorate, alongside regular duties.

    • Planned and allocated GEQIP I & II funds for directorate, regional, college of teacher education and university activities
    • Monitored and evaluated how the funds were used and activities delivered
    • Coordinated the annual mid-year re-planning of project activities
    • Contributed to the preparation of ESDP VI (2020/21 to 2024/25), including UNESCO-IIEP sessions in Paris
  5. Dec 2016 to Aug 2017

    Senior English Language Curriculum Development Expert

    Ministry of Education, Ethiopia · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    • Revised syllabi in line with national curriculum standards and competency-based education
    • Designed scope and sequence frameworks for progression across grade levels
    • Improved student textbooks for accuracy, readability and learner-focused activities
    • Upgraded teacher guides with lesson planning tools and assessment strategies
  6. May 2013 to Nov 2015

    Communication Officer

    Ministry of Education, Ethiopia · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    • Monitored and analysed media coverage and reported to management
    • Wrote speeches, talking points and key messages for senior officials
    • Wrote articles, press releases and feature stories for media outlets
    • Coordinated press conferences, media briefings and interviews
  7. Sep 2006 to Mar 2013

    English Language Teacher and Assistant Head of the English Department

    Lideta Catholic Cathedral School (primary and secondary) · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    • Taught reading, writing, listening and speaking
    • Led the English Language Club: debates, competitions and interactive activities
    • Reviewed and edited mid-term and final English examinations as assistant head of department
    • Supported academic planning, exam administration and quality assurance
  8. Oct 2004 to Jul 2006

    English Language Lecturer

    Royal College · Adama, Ethiopia

    • Taught English courses for academic and communicative competence
    • Advised teacher-researchers on research design, methodology and reporting
    • Coordinated departmental committees and contributed to programme development
Education

Academic background

Apr 2021 to Aug 2025

Doctor of Education (PhD) in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

Bahir Dar University · Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Dissertation: Teacher Educators' Mediation in the Development of Learner Autonomy in Learning EFL Reading Skills: A Focus on Freshman Pre-service Trainees at Kotebe University of Education (KUE) in Addis Ababa.

Course grades: CGPA 3.97 / 4 · Dissertation rated Excellent

Jun 2010 to Oct 2012

Master of Education (MEd) in TEFL

Bahir Dar University · Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Thesis: Learner autonomy in the EFL speaking skills classroom: students' and teachers' perceptions and practices in three Catholic secondary schools in Addis Ababa.

CGPA 3.60 / 4 · Thesis rated Very Good

Sep 1999 to Nov 2003

Bachelor of Education (BEd) in English Language Teaching and Literature

Bahir Dar University · Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Skills

Expertise & tools

Education & Training

  • English language teaching (TEFL)
  • Teacher education and mentoring
  • Training of trainers (ToT): design and facilitation
  • Active learning and learner-centred pedagogy
  • Classroom assessment and exam review
  • Curriculum, syllabus and materials development

Programme & Policy

  • Education sector planning (ESDP VI)
  • Project planning, monitoring and evaluation
  • Work planning and fund allocation (GEQIP)
  • Accreditation and quality assurance
  • Policy analysis and technical reporting
  • Proposal writing and stakeholder coordination

Research & Data

  • Quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods research
  • Quasi-experimental design
  • Surveys, interviews and classroom observation
  • Data analysis with SPSS, Excel and EViews
  • Academic writing and peer review
  • Risk assessment and risk management

Language & Communication

  • Translation between English and Amharic
  • Editing and proofreading
  • Interpretation (English and Amharic)
  • Speech, press release and feature writing
  • Public speaking and workshop facilitation
  • Digital tools for teaching (ICT, AI fundamentals)
Professional service

Peer review & leadership

Peer review

Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies

Peer reviewer · 2026 to present

Peer review

Advances in Curriculum Design & Education (Wisdom Academic Press)

Peer reviewer (two manuscripts) · 2026 to 2026

Peer review

Ethiopian Journal of Language, Culture and Communication (Bahir Dar University)

Peer reviewer · 2025 to present

Leadership & service

Mattu University

Cluster head, national examination (4 to 19 June 2026) · 2026 to 2026

Leadership & service

Bahir Dar University

Cohort representative, PhD programme in TEFL · 2021 to 2025