Somalia launches online learning program amid COVID-19

Somalia has teamed up with international organizations to launch an online learning platform for primary education as the country grapples with the effects of COVID-19.

The ministry of education said the Alternative Learning Option aims to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on education and intends to improve access to quality education for children impacted by the pandemic.

The online platform launched in partnership with the EU, Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Save the Children Somalia program will benefit 392,400 primary school children affected by learning disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to continue their learning remotely.

"The launch is a milestone for the capacity of the Education sector in Somalia to ensure that children are able to learn while they are at home," Abdullahi Abukar Haji, Minister of Education, Culture and Higher Education said in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu on Monday evening.

The initiative, dubbed the COVID-19 Accelerated Funding program, is funded by the GPE to help countries with COVID-19 response as it aims to ensure the continuity of learning and maintain the well-being of teachers and students by development and implementation of alternative distance learning options.

The program targets both public and community-run formal primary schools in the four Federal Member States and Banadir administration.

More, other key milestones including the development of alternative learning options (radio platform) will be rolled out in April. The program procured 17,324 radios to reach out to the target of vulnerable school children in all regions.

Save the Children Somalia program Country Director Mohamud Mohamed Hassan said the platform will create classroom-like interaction between teachers and students, and it will narrow the gap between children from rural and urban areas.