By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Beledweyne, Somalia — Hirshabelle Education Minister Said Hagar Amalow said Somali National University plans to open a campus in Beletweyne later this year to meet regional demand.
Speaking to Dawan TV, Amalow said the regional government has been working with Somali National University to open a campus in Beletweyne.
The minister said approximately 20 percent of students enrolled at the Somali National University come from Beletweyne, arguing that the figure demonstrates the need to expand the institution's presence in the city.
"This year we are planning to bring a branch of the Somali National University to Hirshabelle, specifically to Beletweyne, God willing. It is a project we have worked on for a long time," Amalow said.
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He added that once the Beletweyne campus is established, the regional capital, Jowhar, would be the next city where the university is expected to open another branch.
Amalow described Beletweyne as the city with the highest concentration of universities in Hirshabelle, saying it provides a strong foundation for expanding public higher education in the region.
He also said the Education Ministry has opened six new schools this year, including one dedicated exclusively to girls' education, as part of broader efforts to improve access to education across the state.