Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) -Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre officially launched Somalia’s 2025 national secondary school exams at Sheikh Sufi Secondary School in Mogadishu, calling it “a national achievement and a symbol of progress.”
“This is more than an exam—it’s a reflection of our commitment to rebuilding Somalia through knowledge and opportunity,” he said.
This year, 39,397 students in 39 cities sat for the Grade 12 national examination, the highest number recorded since the program began a decade ago.
The exams were conducted across southern, central, and SSC-Khaatumo regions, with a total of 140 exam centers — including 64 in Mogadishu alone, reaffirming the capital’s role at the heart of the country’s education infrastructure.
To ensure the exam’s integrity and logistical success, the Ministry of Education deployed 3,000 staff members and 2,000 Somali Police Force officers nationwide. The Somali National Army, with support from African Union aircraft, facilitated the secure delivery of exam materials to remote locations.
This marks the second year SSC-Khaatumo has taken part, with active exam centers in Laascaanood, Buuhoodle, and nearby towns. However, Puntland and Somaliland once again opted out, citing unresolved political and constitutional disagreements with the Federal Government.
In a key development, the Ministry introduced a specialized national exam for students in agricultural secondary schools—a first in the country’s history. Officials say the move aligns education with Somalia’s economic realities.
“This is an important step toward strengthening vocational pathways in sectors like agriculture, which remain vital to our economy,” said the State Minister for Education.
Somalia’s national exam system was introduced in the 2014–2015 academic year with just 3,522 students. A decade later, the surge in enrollment reflects both public trust in the system and the resilience of Somalia’s education sector amid prolonged post-conflict recovery.
Still, the absence of two key regions—Puntland and Somaliland—continues to highlight Somalia’s federal fragmentation, leaving the vision of a truly unified national education system unfinished.
