By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
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Somalia, 20 June 2026 – More than 44,000 Somali students began national secondary school exams on Saturday, as government expanded exam centres to new areas and reported a sharp rise in candidates.
Somalia’s Ministry of Education said 44,136 students were sitting the grade 12 certificate exams this year across 58 districts and 158 examination centres.
The exams are being held for the first time in some areas where students previously had to travel to nearby towns to take the national test, including Ceelasha Biyaha in Shabelle Hoose region and Godinlabe in Galgaduud region.
Previously students in Ceelasha Biyaha had to travel to Afgoye for the exams, while those in Godinlabe had to sit their exams in Adado, according to education officials.
The ministry said the expansion was part of efforts to improve access to education services and ensure students across the country have equal opportunities to sit national examinations.
State Minister for Education Nura Mustafa said the exams were being held in 58 districts and 158 centres nationwide.
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Benadir region accounted for the largest share of candidates, with nearly 24,000 students sitting the exams.
Figures announced by federal member states showed South West State had 7,584 candidates, Hirshabelle 4,134, Galmudug 3,617 and Jubaland 2,831. The North East region said it had registered 1,700 candidates.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre officially launched the examinations and praised students for their efforts in reaching what he described as an important stage in their education.
The ministry’s figures showed the number of grade 12 candidates had increased by more than 5,000 from nearly 39,000 students in the previous school year.
Officials said the increase reflected growth in Somalia’s education sector and broader access to national examinations.