(Somaliland) : School enrolment up in Somaliland

[Saalax]

HARGEISA, 31 December 2009 (IRIN) - School enrolment has risen sharply in Somalia's self-declared independent region of Somaliland since 1991, raising the literacy rate from 20 percent to 45 percent, education officials have said.

 

"School enrolment [in primary and secondary schools] has increased dramatically. In 1991, we had only 1,019 students enrolled in schools but by the year 2009 some 45,223 students were in school," Abdi Abdillahi Mohamed, the director of planning in Somaliland's ministry of education, told IRIN.

 

Somaliland declared unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991.

 

Ali Abdi Odowa, director-general in the education ministry, attributed the increase to rising awareness and the construction of many primary schools.

 

"Hundreds of schools have been built both in urban and rural areas and adult education has also started," he said.

 

Somaliland, he said, plans to ensure that at least 75 percent of the population is able to read and write by 2015.

 

According to Mohamed, 225,853 students attended primary school and 21,331 attended secondary school in 2008/2009, while 26,156 were in adult education.

 

Some 6,820 students are currently enrolled in technical colleges and vocational schools.

 

"We have also added two social science subjects in high school - business and agriculture - which we hope will encourage high school leavers to be self-employed," Mohammed said.

 

 

Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Map of Somaliland

Pastoralists complain

 

However, the ministry had received complaints from displaced persons and pastoralists about school fees and the lack of access by their children to schools.

 

"Somaliland's constitution stipulates that all elementary and secondary education is free; there are no fees paid by students but of course there is what we call contributions paid by parents to support voluntary teachers and teachers' salaries," he said.

 

In remote areas, the ministry has established a pilot project where teachers follow pastoralists and teach in mobile schools.

 

"This project is in Togdheer region... Teachers and the school follow the pastoralists wherever they go, and we pay such teachers more than the others," Mohamed said.

 

"We have also started school feeding centres: Pastoralists' children are fed in boarding schools in villages when their families are on the move in search of pasture."

 

 

IRIN

[RedSea]

literacy rate rose from 20% to 45%. Splendid. Masha Allah. If there is one area I think Somaliland has met all its requirements, its' the education system.

[Peacenow]

This has really made my day. Wonderful data. Education is key. Now imagine if they raised this to 90%, what can be achieved.

[Che -Guevara]

^They mostly teach in Arabic

[Jacaylbaro]

It shows you that breaking away from the rest of Somalia is worth it, now education is on the rise and children got people who can inspire and at the same time be a role model for them.

 

The society is heading in the right direction and every thing will fall in the right places, education is important pillar and foundation.

[Blessed]

It was so inspiring to see schools in almost every corner, Masha Allah.

[Peacenow]

Why are they being taught Arabic? Are they learning English as well? Can someone explain this.

[miles-militis]

There you go again, politicising the good efforts of the locals (hardworking mums) and the UN agencies. Give credit where it is due – UNESCO along with multiple other non-governmental agencies. It has no bearing whatsoever to do with secessionist policies.

 

The same applies to other regions of Somalia.

 

And by the way, in what language one studies should hardly matter, so long as one I can read and write.

 

Till then,

[Fabregas_Bruv]

Originally posted by peacenow:

Why are they being taught Arabic?

Arabic speakers can get good MI5/CIA jobs.

[The Zack]

Originally posted by Che -Guevara:

^They mostly teach in Arabic

Now, why did you have to ruin Peacenow's day that bad?

 

 

Viva Arabic!

[Saalax]

I actually think they also teach a good amount of english specially in the hargeysa region.

[MAXIMUS POWERS]

This is excellent news. Very encouraging indeed. Now we must ensure that we reach that 75% target for 2015.

[RedSea]

They teach English more so than Arabic and other subjects as well. Then again, it would depend on what kinda schools we are talking about. There are schools built and taught by Arabs and then are schools built by Somalilanders from abroad(UK) ie. British Secondary school in Hargeisa. I'm pretty sure they put more emphasis on English than Arabic.

[Jacaylbaro]

Originally posted by peacenow:

Why are they being taught Arabic? Are they learning English as well? Can someone explain this.

He is teasing you ....... Arabic is decreasing in teh schools comparing to what it was 10 years ago.

[Haatu]

Originally posted by Che -Guevara:

^They mostly teach in Arabic

Maad ka daysid. Your gonna ruin the poor guys day