The commencement of the Program Physical Education in the Addis Ababa University dates back to the early 1960s.  It was, in fact, in 1962 that a grant was given to an American scholar to come to Ethiopia and carry out a survey of the needs on sports and recreation and outlines a program in Physical Education.  As a result of the survey, a two year diploma program in Physical Education was initiated in 1963.  The department, known as the Department of Health and Physical Education, was headed by an American and was organized to offer its courses through the Faculty of Education.  The purpose of the program was to provide well-qualified Physical Education teachers for the public schools in Ethiopia.  To join the program, a candidate was required to pass a special physical skill test and an interview in addition to some ESLCE grades.  Forty students joined the short-lived program that was terminated after the 1965 graduation.  Then the Department was organized under the Dean of Students with the purpose of arranging and conducting co-curricular activities until 1997/80.  In 1980, it was upgraded to a full-fledged unit with a status of an academic and service-giving department under the name of Department of Physical Education (PhED).  At present the Department has the responsibility of providing students with skills in physical training and spots.

 

Following the re-opening of the undergraduate program, i.e., since 1994, students’ enrollment has been increasing from time to time and from program to program. Even if, its establishment in comparison to other departments of the University is young, its progress in the area of program expansion and student intake has been reached almost as equal as other old departments.

In these days the department has already launched three programs; two in the undergraduate and the rest in the post graduate.  A total of around 600 students are registered under different programs of the department. From theses number of students 30 are in the post graduate and rest 243 and 357 are learning in the regular and summer in-service undergraduate programs.

 

Since 1997, following the graduate expansion program of the university, the department launched post graduate program for the first time in five area of specialization. 

The Department of Physical Education and Sports is already accomplished the design of a new curriculum to offer a three year degree program in Sport Science and a four year degree program in teaching Physical Education and Sports (i.e., with a one year additional Postgraduate Diploma program in teaching Physical Education and Sports) after completing a three year degree program in Sport Science. The new program aims at providing trained and competent personnel for Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education, Sport Federations, Fitness Centers, Clubs etc at Zonal, Regional, and Notional levels.  The current Curriculum Committee of the Department has been working on this task, and suggests the change of status of the Department to that of an Institute.