Somalia, 21 October 2025 — The North East State of Somalia has officially begun issuing Grade 8 primary school certificates, marking a major milestone in the transfer of education management from the federal to the state level.
The launch ceremony, held in LasAnod, was attended by the North East State President, Abdiqadir Ahmed Ali ‘Firdhiye’, members of parliament, former education officials, and regional examination directors.
For the past two years, primary school examinations and certification in the North East region were managed directly by the Federal Ministry of Education. However, this responsibility has now been officially transferred to the State Ministry of Education, aligning with the framework already adopted by other federal member states — Jubaland, Hirshabelle, South West, Galmudug, and the Benadir Regional Administration.
Prior to the transition, schools in the area operated under Somaliland’s education authority, but after the 2023 conflict in the region, the Federal Government of Somalia assumed full control of the education sector in North East State.
The former Minister of Education and current Member of the North East State Parliament, Abdihakin Dalmar, hailed the launch as a “historic milestone” that demonstrates the state’s growing self-reliance and commitment to building a strong, quality-driven system.
“Today, we officially launched the issuance of primary school certificates for Grade 8. These certificates will now be distributed across all districts in the region,” said Abdihakin Dalmar.
He added that nearly 6,000 students who completed primary school education over the past two years will receive their certificates this year. The new certificates are equipped with security features designed to prevent forgery and duplication.
“These certificates are embedded with high-level security protections; they cannot be reproduced elsewhere, and they meet the highest educational standards in Somalia,” Dalmar added.
Education stakeholders have described the initiative as a landmark achievement that strengthens Somalia’s unified education framework. It ensures that, for the first time, students in the region will receive officially recognized certificates issued by their own state under federal supervision and verification.