Girls Dominate Banaadir Grade 8 Exam as Sumayo Hassan Tops with 96.88%

MOGADISHU — Girls have dominated the top positions in the Banaadir region’s Grade 8 certificate examinations, securing nine out of the top ten spots, with the remaining four positions occupied by male students due to three-way, according to results released by the Banadir Regional Education Directorate.

A total of 45,452 students sat for the examinations, comprising 23,351 boys and 20,666 girls. Of these, 44,017 students passed, while 1,435 students failed, representing a pass rate of approximately 96.8 percent. Girls accounted for 45.47 percent of successful candidates.

The top position was secured by Sumayo Hassan Abshir Aadan with a score of 96.88%, followed by Balqiisa Mohamed Omar Mohamed with 96.25% in second place, and Ahmed Abdinasir Abdullahi Abdi with 95.88% in third place. The top ten list includes 13 students due to a three-way tie for 9th place and a two-way tie for 10th place.

The full list of top performers is as follows:

Education officials described the results as a significant achievement and a sign of progress in gender equality in education. The top-performing students were presented with awards, and the Directorate announced that the highest achievers would receive school books, uniforms, and four-year secondary school scholarships.

Preparations for the Grade 8 examinations were completed with enhanced measures to guarantee transparency, fairness, and the integrity of the examination process, with officials emphasising strict anti-cheating measures.

The Ministry of Education has previously listed several key achievements, including the recruitment of 3,000 additional teachers, scholarships for 3,000 girls, and the development of the first-ever Higher Education Act.

Education Sector Progress and Challenges

The release of the results comes amid broader efforts to improve education access and quality in Somalia. Somali students have gained global access to internationally recognised qualifications, with the Turkish Maarif Foundation School in Mogadishu launching Oxford International examinations.

The government has announced plans to award scholarships to 3,000 female students who excelled in national exams, promoting gender equity in education.

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro has also emphasised the central role of education in national development, launching the 2025 National Certificate Examinations with a call for honesty, discipline, and integrity.

Critical Note

While the strong performance of female students in the Banadir Grade 8 exams is a positive development, it also highlights the significant challenges facing Somalia’s education sector. Despite the participation of over 45,000 students in the exams, millions of children across the country remain out of school due to conflict, displacement, poverty, and lack of infrastructure. The education system continues to face severe resource constraints, with many schools lacking basic facilities, qualified teachers, and learning materials. Furthermore, the quality of education remains a concern, with high dropout rates and low learning outcomes in many parts of the country. The government must prioritise investment in education, ensure that resources reach the most marginalised communities, and address the underlying drivers of educational exclusion. The international community, while supportive of education initiatives, must also increase its financial commitments to ensure that all Somali children have access to quality education.