Mogadishu (AX) — On the 21st of November, Somalia celebrated its cherished Teachers’ Day. The affair was headlined by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, who highlighted the ongoing governmental efforts to tackle the educational sector’s roadblocks.
President Mohamud, communicating with the nation via a televised speech, showered teachers with praise, describing them as the “backbone of Somali society.” He poignantly remarked, “While our soldiers secure the present, it is our teachers who shape tomorrow,” underscoring how both groups are instrumental in driving Somalia’s stability and progress.
Remarking on the reformative strides in hiring, the President highlighted the recruitment of 6,000 teachers as a component of a grander scheme to incorporate 10,000 educators nationwide. Although aware of the pressing demand for more resources, he signified how these efforts form the scaffolding for a more robust educational framework.
Prime Minister Barre graced the festivities at Mogadishu’s National Theater, exalting the educators’ tenacity and commitment. “By championing education, our teachers are resurrecting the nation’s ethos and imbuing hope into future brigades,” Barre lauded.
He made it clear that the government prioritizes education, especially in regions rattled by conflict. Recent projects involve repairing schools and ensuring a secure learning environment for both educators and students in regions that had previously succumbed to militant control.
The vigor in teacher recruitment reflects Somalia’s steadfast resolve to tackle the chronic shortage of educators. Earlier in the year, the Ministry of Education announced a drive to enlist 3,000 new teachers, receiving an overwhelming response with upwards of 26,000 applications flooding in.
State Minister of Education Nuura Mustaf Mukhtaar called attention to the recruitment’s gender inclusivity by reserving 30% of positions for women. “Female teachers play an indispensable role in nurturing an inclusive teaching environment and encouraging young Somali girls to dream big,” Mukhtaar articulated.
This initiative rides on the coattails of the recruitment movement of 2023, which saw an additional 3,000 teaching professionals join the ranks. The education budget received a significant uptick, quadrupling to a robust $34 million to buttress these initiatives. Nonetheless, critics argue that the funds fall short, as humanitarian agency UNICEF estimates that 3 million Somali children remain unschooled due to economic hardship, safety concerns, and insufficient infrastructure.
Despite these strides, the educational landscape in Somalia is riddled with lingering challenges. A swath of schools remains either shattered or unreachable, particularly those nestled in rural swaths. Prime Minister Barre has previously emphasized the essential collaboration between security contingents and educational authorities to reclaim and rehabilitate these learning institutions.
“Our investment in education is an investment in Somalia’s future,” Barre passionately declared, cementing the notion that a fortified educational sector is catalytic to the nation’s overarching ascension.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
