Atenu Lab

Research

Reviews, studies, and commentary from the Atenu Educational Technology Lab. Most pieces are written for a specific Ethiopian policy or classroom context, but the underlying evidence is drawn from the broader international research literature.

See also the lab's five research pillars for the overarching agenda.

Research review 22 May 2026 ~14 min

The Language of Assessment: Performance Differences Between Mother-Tongue and English-Medium Items in STEM Subjects

Research review on how the language of test items affects student performance in STEM subjects, with evidence from Ethiopia, South Africa, PISA, and controlled item experiments. Practical implications for the ESSLCE under computer-based testing.

Filed under Digital Assessment & CBT Research
Read the review →

The Language of Assessment: Performance Differences Between Mother-Tongue and English-Medium Items in STEM Subjects