Somalia has teamed up with international organizations to launch an online learning platform for primary school as the country struggles with the effects of COVID-19.
The Ministry of Education said the alternative learning opportunity aims to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on education and intends to improve access to quality education for children affected by the pandemic.
The online platform, launched in partnership with the EU, Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the Save the Children Somalia program, will benefit 392,400 primary school children affected by learning disabilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic to continue their learning externally.
“The launch is a milestone in the education sector’s capacity to ensure that children are able to learn while at home,” said Abdullahi Abukar Haji, Minister of Education, Culture and Higher Education in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu on Monday night.
The initiative, called the COVID-19 Accelerated Funding Program, is funded by the GPE to help countries with the COVID-19 response, as it aims to ensure continuity in learning and maintain the well-being of teachers and students in developing and implementing alternative distance learning options. .
The program targets both public and community-run formal primary schools in the four federal Member States and the Banadir administration.
More important other milestones, including the development of alternative learning opportunities (radio platform), will be rolled out in April. The program procured 17,324 radios to reach the target of vulnerable school children in all regions.
Save the Children Somalia program Country Director Mohamud Mohamed Hassan said the platform will create class-like interaction between teachers and students and it will reduce the gap between children from rural and urban areas.
