MOGADISHU (AX) — The Banadir Regional Administration will allocate $288,000 this year to strengthen education services and support the construction of new public schools in Mogadishu, Mayor Hassan Mohamed Hussein, known as Muungaab, announced Sunday, marking a renewed push to expand access to free public education in the capital.
The funding, approved for the current school year, is expected to rise in subsequent years as the city advances a wider plan to improve public schooling. “I recently signed nearly three hundred thousand dollars for the development of schools in Banadir Region per school year,” Muungaab said during a visit to the Banadir Regional Education Directorate headquarters. “We will increase this amount further as we move ahead with plans to build large schools soon.”
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The mayor delivered the remarks at the regional education directorate, which has undergone extensive renovation, casting the upgrade as a signal of Mogadishu’s broader intent to modernize its public education system after years of strain.
Muungaab said improving public schools is a priority for the regional administration, noting that families who pay taxes expect essential services in return. He urged parents to enroll their children, characterizing education as a crucial tool to combat ignorance and build a more stable society in Mogadishu.
Regional officials said the additional funds will be directed to core needs across the system, including infrastructure improvements, teaching resources and overall service delivery in public schools.
Mogadishu’s public education sector has grappled with overcrowded classrooms, limited facilities and uneven access in recent years, challenges city authorities say they intend to tackle with sustained investment. By channeling new money into school construction and basic classroom resources, the administration aims to close capacity gaps and expand opportunities for children who rely on the public system.
- Construction of new, larger public schools to meet growing demand
- Upgrades to existing classrooms, sanitation and basic infrastructure
- Procurement of learning materials and support for teaching resources
- Improvements to school-level service delivery and administration
Officials did not release a school-by-school breakdown of the funds, but the mayor’s pledge to raise the allocation annually suggests a multiyear effort anchored in expanding access and easing pressure on the most crowded neighborhoods.
City authorities framed the investment as part of a social compact with residents, linking better public services to civic participation and tax compliance. The mayor’s appeal to parents to prioritize schooling — and to use the public system where possible — underscores the administration’s bid to strengthen an often-overstretched sector through both resources and community engagement.
As the education directorate resumes work from its refurbished headquarters, administrators are expected to begin deploying funds toward urgent needs while mapping the next phase of school construction. The administration did not provide a timeline for new campuses, but emphasized that planning is underway.
With the new allocation and plans to scale investment over time, Mogadishu is positioning public education as a pillar of local governance — a test of the city’s ability to deliver essential services and a bet on the long-term dividends of an educated generation.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
