Education is one of major social interventions of the Catholic Church and is being rendered to the local communities in the diocese of Adigrat. This important service has been introduced dating back to the first half of the 19th century in the region.

Today, the Catholic Diocese in Adigrat, North of Ethiopia, gives educational opportunity and services to over 12,000 school children through its 46 educational institutions:
13 kindergartens, 23 primaries, 3 secondary, 3 technical - vocational colleges, 1 philosophical-theological college and 4 non-formal schools, of which 1 kindergarten, 15 primaries, 2 secondary, and 4 non-formal schools are under the direct financial responsibility of the diocesan Bishop, while the others are run by or entrusted to the care of the religious communities and congregations working in the Diocese.

GENERAL PROFILE:
The Eparchy of Adigrat covers the whole Region of Tigray - an area of approximately 80,000 sq. kms.plus Zone 2 of the Afar Region, about 52,000 sq.kms, total of approx. 132,000 sq.kms. (4 ½ times the size of Belgium or about 3 times the size of Switzerland, or more than 1 ½ the size of Austria); with 31 parishes, 5 outstations, about 20,000 Catholics.

The projected total population of Tigray is estimated:
4,031,645 (Tigray 3,797,000 approx., Zone 2 Afar 234,645 approx).
Major Religions are Orthodox (95.5%), Muslim (4.1%),
Catholics (0.4%) in Tigray, and almost all Muslims in Afar.
Despite being minority, the Catholic Church is well recognized and appreciated for its social/pastoral services open to all.

-The topography is diverse, mostly characterized by high places with an Altitude range of 120 meters under sea-level to 4,620 meters above sea-level, and rugged mountainous terrain.
-The Diocese covers 6 zones, 42 Weredas and over 645 Tabias (peasant associations) of Tigray and 1 zone of Afar.
-More than 85% of the population in the Diocese depends on the agricultural sector for its livelihood. All are pastoralists in the Afar zone.