The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the semiautonomous region of Puntland have clashed over examination results.
Recently, over 1,600 students sat for examinations whose results determine whether they receive their final secondary school certificates.
According to the Ministry of Education, Abdullahi Goddah Barre, Puntland students sat for different exams from the official standardized tests his ministry had prepared.
Consequently, Barre said his ministry would not recognize the results of those examinations.
Barre broke this news during an interview with VOA Somali. In it, he said the education ministry would only recognize results of students who took the official standardized tests.
Furthermore, he reiterated that the federal government is responsible for secondary school tests and certification.
On his part, Abdullahi Mohamed Hassan, who is Puntland’s Minister of Education, said Barre does not bear personal ownership of the country’s secondary school certificates.
Hassan said Barre is only a government representative hence has no powers to deny students the certificates that recognize their hard work in secondary school.
Somalia’s national exams started on Saturday and will end on Wednesday. Puntland launched its exams a week earlier.