By Hanad Abdi - Reporter
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JIGJIGA, 1 November 2026 — Forty children living with autism are receiving education at Daryeel 1 School in Jigjiga, as children with the condition face challenges accessing learning opportunities suited to their needs.
The school is one of two centres established in Ethiopia's Somali Region in Ethiopian calendar year 2018 (2025-2026), to provide education and specialised support for children living with autism.
Autism is a developmental condition whose characteristics can emerge in early childhood and may affect how a person communicates and interacts with others.
Daryeel 1 School's principal, Ahmed Ibrahim Hussein, said the centre was established towards the end of 2018 in the Ethiopian calendar to address these children's educational needs.
"The purpose of establishing it was to serve children with autism," Ahmed said.
He said public awareness of the condition remained limited, which was among the reasons for opening the school.
Of the 40 pupils currently attending the centre, 36 are boys and four are girls.
Daryeel 1 has opened a path to education for these children. However, limited public awareness of autism and difficulties accessing services suited to children's needs remain challenges to be addressed.