Commitment to Education by Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir
In a pivotal move, Somalia’s Education Minister, Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir, is spearheading efforts to uplift the education standards across the nation, promising that every learner will have access to high-quality education.
After the Somali Parliament gave a thumbs-up to the National Higher Education Bill, Minister Abdulkadir expressed his genuine gratitude to the MPs for their overwhelming backing. Overflowing with excitement, he emphasized the positive impact this legislative milestone would have on preparing students for the contemporary workforce.
“Quality education, that’s the game-changer,” Abdulkadir remarked. “Our graduates will now enter the workforce equipped and resilient against today’s societal challenges,” he explained with confidence.
Designed to reform and advance the landscape of higher education, the bill aims to create a savvy populace ready to steer the nation towards growth and tackle various significant matters.
The Ministry of Education spearheaded the proposal, which received a landslide approval in the Lower House with 140 members voting in its favor, and only one lone dissenting voice. Not a single member abstained from this important vote.
“Higher education isn’t cheap, nor is it a luxury; it’s the heartbeat of our country’s ambition. It churns out the leaders and skilled professionals we crucially need for progress,” Abdulkadir passionately communicated.
He also highlighted that the new law will set the stage for a higher education committee, tasked with supervising technical components of higher education nationwide.
“This law is harmonious with international benchmarks. Education today is a global village, particularly at the university level. Our legislation will enhance the credibility of our academic qualifications, giving our students the edge to continue their education on foreign shores,” Abdulkadir declared.
“Since we’re now part of the East African Community (EAC), our students will gain access to education in member states and bask in the benefits of academic exchanges,” he added, underlining the broader potential of the bill.
The significance of the bill for private universities, who have been salvaging education amidst adversity, was also underscored by the minister, reaffirming the government’s dedication to enhancing private learning institutions.
“The bill is a boon for private schools. This move absolutely reflects our government’s unwavering commitment to bolster private educational setups,” he noted.
Abdulkadir’s influence in Somalia’s educational realm has been nothing short of transformative. Since taking up the mantle, he’s made quite a splash, especially with a bold teacher recruitment drive to tackle the acute dearth of suitably qualified educators.
In the last couple of years, the Ministry has brought 6,000 teachers on board, aligning with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s vision of employing 10,000 teachers during his term.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
