This study was aimed at investigating the pressing issue of the reasons why teachers leavernthe teaching profession and the factors that contributed to or aggravated the exodus .fromrnteaching. 11 was also intended to identify preventive strategies to reduce attrition andrnincrease teacher retention.rnTo conduct the study, a descriptive survey was employed. For this purpose, the study wasrnconducted in four sample regions of Ethiopia: Addis Ababa, Ajar, Amhara and Oromia.rnFrom these regions samples were taken from 12 Zones, 20 Weredas, 46 Primary and 12rnSecondary Schools. Randomly selected samples of practicing teachers (N = 884) of formerrnteachers (N= 282) from primary and secondary schools and of prospective teachersrn(N= 162) from eight teacher education institutions were involved in filling questionnaires tornprovide first hand information. [nterviell 'S and focus group discussions were carried outrnwith education officials pom REBs, ZEDs, VVEOs and incumbent school principals andrnteachers. [n addition, various doclim ents and personal observations and experiences werernused as instrllments to collect data. Data analysis lFas made by using statistical tools suchrnas percentage, mean, Chi-square, rank order correlation coefficient and t-test to identifyrnwhether there were differences and agreements among the respondents on several variables .rnThe study revealed that average teacher attrition rate per annum in the three years periodrn(1996/97-1998/99) for the four Sampled Regions was about 3%, the highest (7.4%) in AfarrnRegion (a peripheral region),and the lowest (1.3%) in Addis Ababa (an urban region). Overrna similar period, among the teachers 'with certificate, diploma and degree holders about 1%,rn5% and 8% of them respectively left the profession annually. Annual rate of attrition forrnprimary school teachers found to be about 1 % , in contrast to the rate of attrition ofrnsecondary school teachers that reached 5.3%. The failure of 'new graduates to turn-uprnbefore starting the profession also aggravated attrition. Within the .three years periodrn(1996/97 - 2000/01) among the new graduates 14.1% of diploma and 19.1% of degreernholders failed to report to Afar, Amhara and Oromia regions collectively.rnFormer teachers left their jobs mainly for the reasons which are in rank order: the lowrnsocial prestige accorded to teaching by the society at large, low economic and financialrnbenefits, lack of transfer, unfavourable working conditions within schools, administrativernproblems, lack of professional career development. difficulties of living conditions,rnoverloaded vl'Ork, limited chance forfurther education and lack of instructional support.rnThe study also revealed that the majority of former and practicing teachers lacked initialrncommitment to teaching. Substantial number of practicing teachers disclosed that theyrnwould not prefer to stay in teaching. The majority of prospective teachers in the degreernprogrammejoined teacher education programme without being interested.rnThe new career structure and salary scale has failed to bring about the intended purpose ofrnretaining teachers as they left the profession at a significant rate. Almost all practicingrnteachers disclosed that the career structure lacked the power to motivate teachers.rnFinally, the study discusses the consequences as result of teacher attrition and suggestionsrnare forwarded for how policy decision-makers in the MOE, REB, ZED, WEO as well as inrnschools and communities, can help reduce attrition, enhance retention and attract the bestrnrecruits to teacher education programmes.rnVIIrnBESOrnECrnESDPrnESLCErnETPrnFOErnFGErnERGESErnGCErnGOrnILOrnMOErnNGOrnREBrnSIDArnTGErnTTlrnTTC/CTErnlJNESCOrnUNICEFrnUSAIDrnWEOrnZEDrnACRONYMSrnBasic Education System OverhaulrnEthiopian CalendarrnEducation Sector Development PrograrpmernEthiopian School Leaving Certificate ExaminationrnEducation and Training PolicyrnFaculty of EducationrnFederal Government of EthiopiarnEvaluative Research on General Education System of EthiopiarnGeneral Certificate of EducationrnGovernment OrganizationrnInternational Labour OrganizationrnMinistry of EducationrnNon-Government OrganizationrnRegional Education BureaurnSwedish International Development AgencyrnTransitional Government of EthiopiarnTeacher Training InstituternTeacher Training College/College of Teacher EducationrnUnited Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural OrganizationrnUnited Nations International Children FundrnUnited States Agency for International AidrnWereda Education OfficernZonal Education Department