By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Somalia, 20 December 2025 Somalia’s Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education has announced temporary suspension of educational activities across the Banadir Region as part of preparations for upcoming district council elections.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry said that all educational institutions in Banadir—including schools, institutes, and universities—will be closed from December 21 to December 25, 2025. The move is intended to facilitate election-related preparations in districts across the region.
The Ministry called on administrators of educational institutions designated for election activities to cooperate closely with electoral authorities to ensure smooth coordination during the closure period.
Authorities said the instructional days lost due to the suspension will be compensated for by extending the 2025–2026 academic calendar, ensuring the school year is completed in full.
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The decision comes as Somalia prepares for local elections in the capital region, requiring coordination between education and electoral institutions.
However, the announcement has drawn renewed attention to concerns within the education sector over the use of schools and universities for non-academic purposes. The Somali Universities Union has warned against turning educational institutions into polling or voter registration centers, arguing that such practices risk politicizing education and undermining students’ right to a safe and stable learning environment.
The union said converting campuses into electoral sites could expose students and teachers to security risks, political pressure, and academic disruption, urging authorities to seek civilian alternatives and stressing that safeguarding educational institutions remains a national responsibility.
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