Somaliland and its univeristy graduates

[Jacaylbaro]

We have all heard the quotes on the value of a good education, but the question is

what does one do with a good education?

 

In the case of Somaliland, much to the credit of the nations higher learning

institutions, a slew of graduates, most recently medical graduates, have emerged.

This a feat unheard of in an unrecognised and underfunded country. I am sure, some

experts in the UN, EU, or the AU are sitting at their desks, shaking their heads

in bewilderment. They are wondering how this small and under-developed, but

determined nation, achieved such a historic feats with minimal external financial

or logistic support!

 

But, I digress, let us return to the question of what Somaliland has to offer

these new graduates? Somaliland's schools, private and public are churning out

graduates every year. I don't have the figures at my fingertips, but I would

thinks that its one of the highest rates, in Africa. Fortuitously, these high

school graduates have at least six options of higher learning within the country.

But what happens after graduating?

 

Somaliland is producing, doctors, engineers, nurses, economist, teachers, and so

on. The question now, is how does Somaliland retain these graduates? How can

Somaliland offer opportunities to these recent graduates, without losing them to

the fake "bright lights" of expatriate life? A life which often leads to family

strife, alienation and miss-appropriation of a foreign culture. No, there has to

be better options at home.

 

Somaliland has done very well in finding positions for most of its graduates,

with the brightest securing further education overseas, however, until the on-set

of full international recognition, the current situation is untenable. There are

only so much vacancies within the central public sector. On the other hand

Somaliland's nascent private sector is unable to absorb these new graduates at the

present time, so, it is time that Somalilanders put their thinking caps on and

come up with solutions to furthering the promise of these graduates.

 

One can never accuse Somaliland of political stagnation, but economic stagnation

is very much on the horizon. I urge the international communities to pay attention

the situation in Somaliland. Aside from the usual political hurdles placed against

Somaliland's independence, it is imperative that the international communities

realise that its unfathomable attitude to Somaliland is going to have a profound

effect on the countries educated youngsters.

 

These youngsters are the future of the country, and unless they are assisted in

fulfilling their potential, then it is inevitable they will become a future

problem for these develop international societies.

 

Some may argue, that Europe with its declining birth-rate, is in dire need of a

fusion of fresh blood. But that is not the case, with the enlargement of the EU,

an educated Somalilander would have as slim or no change of finding work.

 

However, I know that most Somaliland graduates would rather make a good life in

their country instead of starting from scratch in a foreign land. The reason many

Somalilanders have a strong attachment to their country, is purely cultural. To

this day, many expatriate Somalilanders are returning and investing in the their

country. However, these expatriates can do only so much, and without full

international recognition, Somaliland will face a serious "brain-drain".

 

So, the call to the international communities is to begin appreciating, not only

the democratic credentials of Somaliland, but also, to note the affect their

misguided attitude towards Somaliland is having on the nations best and brightest.

 

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Ahmed Kheyre