More than 44,000 students sit Somalia's 2026 secondary school exams

MOGADISHU, Somalia, June 20, 2026 – More than 44,000 Somali students sat for the country's 2026 secondary school leaving examinations on Saturday, with authorities describing the tests as a key milestone in efforts to strengthen the education system.

According to the Ministry of Education, 44,136 students are taking the exams, which are being administered in 158 examination centres across 58 districts, most of them located in southern and central Somalia.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre officially launched the examinations and urged candidates to demonstrate dedication and compete fairly.

Barre said the federal government had made substantial investments in education and remained committed to strengthening the country's schooling system to secure the future of younger generations.

He said the government's National Transformation Plan had placed education at the centre of Somalia's development agenda, with improving quality and modernising the sector among its top priorities.

"Education is not only the path to success, but also the foundation of development and national capacity-building," the prime minister said, adding that Islam strongly emphasises the importance of learning.

Education Minister Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir congratulated the students sitting the exams and wished them success, while thanking school administrators, teachers, parents, security agencies and all personnel involved in organising the nationwide tests.

"The Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education is committed to ensuring the integrity, fairness and quality of national examinations, with the aim of producing a knowledgeable and capable generation that will drive the country's development," the minister said.

Somalia has expanded its national examination system in recent years as part of broader efforts to rebuild institutions and improve access to education after decades of conflict and instability.

GAROWE ONLINE