Somalia receives $5.6 million from EU to boost education

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Federal government of Somalia [FGS] has secured 5.6 million U.S. dollars from the European Union [EU] to manage and regulate the country's education sector.

The EU said in a statement on Friday that the four-year technical assistance project targets to strengthen education authorities' capacity to manage and regulate the sector, while facilitating collaboration with other sector stakeholders.

Nicolas Berlanga Martinez, EU ambassador to Somalia, said the money will aim at harmonizing education policies, implementing the new curriculum framework, strengthening quality assurance and standards systems, as well as improving national examinations and assessments across the country.

The EU supports education reforms through its bilateral cooperation portfolio where education and training have been identified as a priority sector.

Abdullahi Godah Barre, Somali minister for education, said the country has great potential and great people.

"We are excited about this project as it will help us further develop this potential, improve the country's educational opportunities and bring actors in this field together to shape Somalia's future," Bare noted.

This comes amid a standoff between the FGS and Puntland over the unified national exam with minister Godah Bare announced that the ministry of education will not issue the certificate for high school graduating students in the state.

Decades of conflict have fragmented Somalia's education system, leaving behind gaps and many areas for improvement.

GAROWE ONLINE