Somalia Schools for Adults Offer Second Chance at Education
(AWP) - Young Somali woman Hama Ali Ahmed did not have a chance to complete her school education to join university as she’d always dreamed, but after many years out of school and despite her many commitments, she decided to return to the classroom.
Hawa now attends an adult education school in the Somali capital Mogadishu, carrying her own books and pens, and spending many hours each evening studying.
She stressed, “We are capable of learning although some of us have families and many different things they are busy with. I urge everyone not to surrender to circumstances; there are no barriers to education.”
The educational system in the east African country consists of four main levels, including pre-primary, primary, secondary and vocational, as well as higher education. War and poverty have caused large numbers of students to drop out of schools.
According to 2022 statistics released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), about three out of every four adults in Somalia cannot read or write, while one out of four children does not attend school.
Adult education schools are seeing an influx of people who thought they missed out the chance at education.
Abdel-Fattah Taher Mohamed, another adult student, said, “I hope my classmates and I will continue our education until we reach university level. I always used to think that I was past the stage of learning, but this school offered us another chance and we must take advantage of it to make our dreams come true.”
Mohamed Fareh, the director of an adult education school, said the school has graduated many students to university level and they are now working in various fields.
Fareh explained, “Since its establishment, this school has graduated many students, particularly adults who annually participate in government certificate exams for the intermediate and secondary stages. Many of them have succeeded and achieved excellent grades and play a major role in all walks of life within Somali society.”