Banadir authorities ban school gate locking to punish late students
Mogadishu (AX) — In a move aimed at keeping children in class, the Banadir Regional Administration has outlawed the practice of locking school gates to punish late arrivals, saying the policy protects students’ right to education and helps...
Thursday April 9, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — In a move aimed at keeping children in class, the Banadir Regional Administration has outlawed the practice of locking school gates to punish late arrivals, saying the policy protects students’ right to education and helps curb dropout rates.
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The announcement came after a meeting between the Banadir Regional Education Directorate and principals from 48 public schools in Mogadishu. The talks centered on raising education standards and tackling the problems that continue to affect student access and retention.
Banadir Regional Director of Education Abdirahman Ali Mohamed said the school leaders agreed unanimously to abandon the long-standing habit of sending late students away from school gates.
“We have banned locking the doors of schools as a punishment for students who are late and keeping them outside,” Abdirahman said. “This practice negatively affects students’ education and future.”
He said schools must now use other disciplinary measures that do not bar students from entering classrooms. Under the new directive, students who arrive late are still to be admitted, while each school is expected to put in place its own internal system for managing punctuality.
“Each school should have its own system for managing late students, but students in uniform must not be turned away at the school gate,” he said, stressing that excluding pupils from lessons weakens learning and raises the likelihood of dropout.
Abdirahman also called on parents to take a more active role in making sure their children get to school on time, saying that schools and families must work together if discipline and academic performance are to improve.
For years, many schools in Somalia have shut their gates once lessons start, leaving latecomers outside for hours or even the entire day. Education officials say the practice has fueled absenteeism and, in some cases, pushed students out of school altogether, as some arrived late on purpose knowing they would be denied entry.