Ethiopia’s Federal Ministry of Education has lifted its ban on distance education, reports Nazret.com, a news Web site. The ministry banned distance-learning efforts in August in an effort to regulate private universities, as part of its concerns about the quality of the education being offered. After negotiations with the Ethiopian Private Higher-Education Institutions Association and others, distance education can start again, and private education providers can expand their operations. But they must meet strict curriculum guidelines established by the government that require universities to focus on teaching technology and the natural sciences.