Welcome to ACSI

By: David Harding

A new agreement between the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Ethiopian Council of Gospel Believers’ Churches marks a significant step for Christian education in Ethiopia and may create new opportunities for faith-based schools in the country.

Signed in late February of 2026, the agreement recognizes ACSI as the sole Christian accrediting organization for schools operating through the Council. Schools accredited by ACSI may receive authorization from the Council to operate and can receive assistance with practical needs such as visas for missionary teachers.

The milestone came at a crucial time for Bingham Academy, a Christian international school in Ethiopia whose operating license was set to expire on March 1.

According to Michael McNabb, ACSI Director of Accreditation, International Division, Bingham Academy’s leadership contacted ACSI for help as the deadline approached. Through the new partnership with the Council, the school was granted a license to operate, allowing it to continue serving students and families in Ethiopia.

Beyond helping one school, the development represents a strategic breakthrough for ACSI; this level of formal agreement with ACSI is a new development that presents opportunity for the advance of Christian education in Ethiopia.  

“This milestone gives us a relationship and a presence in a country where we’ve had conferences but haven’t had official partnerships,” McNabb said.

For years, Dr. Sosthene J. Maletoungou, ACSI’s Divisional Director for Africa, has been praying for an opportunity to establish a foothold in Ethiopia. ACSI has a regional office for East Africa based in Kenya, providing support for Christ-centered education in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi.

The agreement also highlights the unique role religious organizations play in Ethiopia’s educational landscape. Although the country has a national Ministry of Education, the Ethiopian Council of Gospel Believers’ Churches was created seven years ago, and it holds significant influence in matters involving Christian institutions.

Under the new arrangement, schools accredited by ACSI can seek recognition through the Council, creating a pathway for Christian schools to operate while maintaining their faith-based mission.

Bingham Academy itself has a long history of serving missionary and international families. The school is affiliated with Serving in Mission (SIM USA), an international evangelical mission organization formerly known as the Sudan Interior Mission.

School leaders remain hopeful but acknowledge that the outcome is uncertain.

“They feel confident they have a strong case,” McNabb said. “But this will ultimately be decided in court.”

Regardless of the court’s decision,  McNabb believes the agreement itself is significant. Part of his role involves helping ACSI build recognition with ministries and governments around the world, opening doors for Christian schools in new regions.