Somalia

Somalia’s education system reflects the country’s complex colonial history and subsequent political developments, resulting in two major, distinct systems in the north and south. The southern region, formerly under Italian colonial rule, adopted an education system modeled after the Italian structure, while the northern region, influenced by British colonialism, implemented a system aligned with British standards. Following independence and the unification of British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland, Somalia initially maintained a unified education structure. However, the 1991 Civil War led to a significant shift, with the education systems in the north and south evolving independently.

Southern Somalia: The southern part of Somalia’s education system is not centralized, as regional and federal authorities share responsibilities. The Federal Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education oversees the development of national policies, but regional education offices across Southern Somalia play a significant role in implementation. This system is designed to ensure that national standards are upheld across the country, while allowing for flexibility in regional contexts. Due to the country’s history of political instability, there has been a strong emphasis on rebuilding and standardizing education.

Northern Somalia: The northern part of Somalia’s, also known as Somaliland, has a national curriculum overseen by the Ministry of Education. The system comprises early childhood education, primary education, secondary education, and higher education. Primary education consists of 8 years going from grades 1 to 8. While secondary education consists of 4 years going from grade 9 to 12, recognized locally as Form 1 to 4. While public schools dominate, there is a significant presence of private schools and Islamic madrasas, many of which are overseen by the Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs. Education is mandatory until grade 12.

Southern region of Somalia: The official language of instruction is Somali, reflecting the need to promote national unity and accessibility. However, English and Arabic are also used, especially at higher levels of education. English is incorporated into the national secondary curriculum; whereas, Arabic is used in religious and Arabic language studies in all grade level curriculums. In rural areas, the policy encourages the use of local dialects in the early grades to enhance accessibility for young learners. Despite this, many parents and teachers prefer English, particularly in private and urban schools, due to the advantages it provides for higher education and employment.

Northern Region of Somalia: At the primary level, Somali is the official language of instruction. At the secondary level, English is the medium of instruction. However, due to insufficient teacher fluency in English, lessons may often be delivered in Somali despite using English-based materials.

Southern Somalia: The curriculum is set by the Federal Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education, which provides national guidelines. However, regions can adapt these to fit local needs. This ensures that there is consistency in the basic educational standards across Somalia while allowing for flexibility in how they are implemented regionally. Textbooks are often developed based on national standards, but there is a lack of adequate resources, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas. Over the last four years, the Somalia Education Systems Strengthening Programme (SESSP), funded by the European Union and implemented by Adam Smith International, has supported the development of educational textbooks in Somalia. The core subjects included in the curriculum include Somali, Islamic Studies, Arabic, English, Social Studies, Math, and Science.

Northern Somalia: Somaliland follows a curriculum-based system, structured by the Ministry of Education. The curriculum is standardized across the nation for primary and secondary education. The curriculum includes core subjects such as Math, Science, English, Somali, Arabic, Social Studies and Islamic Studies at both primary and secondary levels. The curriculum aims to ensure that students develop both academic knowledge and practical skills across these subjects.

In both Somalia and Somaliland, the teacher-centric model is widely used, particularly in public schools. This approach emphasizes direct instruction and authority in the classroom. However, in private, especially those following international curricula (mostly American, British, and Canadian) there is a shift towards more student-centered approaches, which encourage critical thinking and independent learning.

Southern Somalia: Somalia’s assessment system includes regular midterm and final examinations. National exams are administered by the government and are taken at the end of the Primary, Intermediate, or Secondary stage, to precede onto the next education phase. The Education Quality Assurance and Standards (EQAS) framework plays a key role in maintaining educational standards and ensuring that assessments are used to drive improvements in learning outcomes. The national exams help monitor student progress, while continuous assessments are used throughout the academic year. These assessments are conducted in schools.

Northern Somalia: National examinations are conducted annually at both the primary and secondary levels. These standardized tests assess students in a range of subjects, with seven subjects for primary exams and ten subjects for secondary exams. Exams are administered in June every year, and students must meet minimum grade requirements to progress to secondary or higher education. Students are assessed through a combination of multiple-choice, short answer, and essay questions. The exams are designed to test both core knowledge and the application of concepts across various subjects, such as English, Math, Science, and Islamic Studies. These assessments are conducted in schools.

The Somaliland Ministry of Education has standardized published textbooks implemented by the HEMA Company for Grades 1-12.