education

In a country that has waited more than half a century for modern workplace protections, a union-led, United Nations-backed push is taking the new law from paper to factory floors, markets and offices across Somalia. The Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) has launched a nationwide labour rights education drive to help workers understand, reclaim and defend their rights under Somalia’s newly adopted Labour Code — the first comprehensive reform in 52 years. The Labour Code emerged from sustained social dialogue among the…

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU), backed by the United Nations, has launched a nationwide labor rights education campaign to turn Somalia’s first comprehensive Labour Code reform in 52 years into real protections in workplaces across the country. The newly adopted Labour Code was crafted through sustained tripartite dialogue among the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA), the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and FESTU, with technical and financial…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia plans to recruit 12,000 government-employed teachers by the end of 2026, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Saturday, framing the effort as the centerpiece of a drive to rebuild a long-fragile education system and place it on a domestically financed footing. Barre said his administration has already recruited and deployed 6,000 trained teachers in less than two years, a dramatic shift from the roughly 900 teachers on the federal payroll when the government took office. “In just two years, we…

Somalia to recruit 10,000 teachers, shift salaries to domestic revenue in education overhaul MOGADISHU — Somalia will hire 10,000 teachers over the next 45 months and pay their salaries entirely from domestic revenue, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre announced Friday, framing the move as a cornerstone of state-building and economic independence. “For the first time in Somalia’s history, teachers’ salaries will be paid entirely from domestic revenue rather than external support,” Barre wrote on X. “This is not just politics,…

Somalia and Djibouti sign MoU to deepen higher education and research ties Tuesday, February 10, 2026 MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia and Djibouti on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation in higher education and research, committing to academic exchanges, joint degree programs and stronger protections for intellectual property as the neighbors seek to invest in their young populations. The agreement, signed in Mogadishu by Somalia’s Minister of Education, Culture and Higher Education, Farah Sheikh…

Investigation Ordered into Alleged Bribery of Foreign Scholarship Recipients In a decisive move to address corruption, President John Mahama has mandated a "full-scale" investigation into allegations that officials are soliciting bribes from recipients of foreign scholarships. This probe has been initiated in response to claims made during a recent radio panel discussion featuring Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, the former CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme. Nkansah's revelations raised serious concerns…

Prominent rights activist Sarah Bireete, detained on December 30 after questioning the accuracy of the voter register ahead of Uganda's January 15 general election, has been granted bail. Bireete, who leads the Centre for Constitutional Governance, faced charges for the alleged unlawful disclosure of voters' information. Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko approved Bireete's release after she met the necessary bail conditions. Her detention sparked widespread condemnation from both local and international human rights…

Hundreds of pupils across Namibia remain unenrolled three weeks into the new academic year because of a nationwide shortage of classrooms, the Ministry of Education confirmed, as frustrated parents in densely populated regions press for swift action. The situation is most acute in the Khomas region, the country’s economic hub, where officials say there is a critical lack of space for Grade 8 students. Parents and community leaders report children staying at home while schools struggle to accommodate incoming classes,…

The Impact of Prolonged School Closures in Sudan Sudan faces an alarming educational crisis as millions of children remain out of school due to ongoing conflict. This section explores the core issues contributing to one of the world's longest school closures. Over eight million children in Sudan face nearly 500 days without formal education. Conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) hinders educational access. Schools are either closed, damaged, or repurposed as shelters, particularly in…

Nigerian Authorities Secure Release of Remaining Schoolchildren Abducted in Niger State Nigerian authorities have announced the successful release of the final 130 schoolchildren and staff abducted from St. Mary's Catholic boarding school in Papiri, Niger state, effectively bringing an end to one of the country’s most harrowing mass kidnappings. The ordeal began on November 21, when more than 250 individuals were taken during a brazen attack. Earlier this month, about 100 children had been freed, and 50 were reported to…