Hamza Opens National Exams With Record 44,300 Candidates

MOGADISHU – Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Saturday formally opened Somalia’s Unified National Grade 12 Secondary School Examinations, with 44,300 students taking the tests at 158 examination centres nationwide. The number of candidates rose by more than 5,000 compared with 2025, reflecting wider access to education, improved security, increased teacher recruitment, and the reopening of schools in areas once controlled by Al-Shabaab.

At the launch ceremony, Prime Minister Barre said education is the foundation of Somalia’s future and urged students to sit the examinations with confidence and determination.

“Somalia’s future is being written in classrooms today, and every one of you holds a pen,” Prime Minister Barre told the candidates, while wishing them success in the exams. He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering quality education for all Somali children through continued investment in the education sector.

The government has unveiled a comprehensive reform of the national education system, highlighting the recent federal recruitment drive as a significant achievement in structural reform and state sovereignty. Over 10,000 qualified teachers have been recruited and deployed across both urban centres and remote areas, with the aim of increasing the workforce to 12,000 government-employed educators.

A Growing Education Sector

Somalia’s unified national secondary school examinations were launched in 2015 as part of efforts to create a standardised national education system after decades of conflict and institutional collapse, with about 7,000 students sitting the first exams. Since then, participation has increased steadily, and the annual examinations have become a key milestone in the country’s work to rebuild and strengthen its education sector.

Prime Minister Barre has previously emphasised the critical role of education in Somalia’s reconstruction, characterising a robust educational framework as the foundation for economic revival, social unity, and national security. The government has given special priority to investing in education, aiming to establish a high-quality, efficient, and modern education system that meets contemporary needs.

Education officials attribute the growing number of candidates to ongoing reforms, higher school enrolment, improved security in several regions, and government initiatives aimed at expanding educational opportunities across the country. The government has also invested in education infrastructure, with Prime Minister Barre presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony for the new headquarters of Somalia’s Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Learning in Mogadishu.

Teacher Recruitment and Domestic Funding

A crucial element of the sector expansion is its complete independence from external financial support. For the first time in contemporary Somali history, the salaries of newly hired teachers are fully funded through domestic national revenues. This financial autonomy marks a significant advancement in state capability, demonstrating the Federal Government’s capacity to sustainably manage its fundamental public services while exercising full sovereignty over its long-term development objectives.

The federal government remains committed to advancing education at all levels, with Prime Minister Barre announcing that free PhD education will be available for 60 Somali students at the University for Peace (UPEACE), a powerful step toward empowering future leaders and fostering a skilled workforce.

A Record Year for Candidates

The examinations are conducted by the Federal Government in cooperation with education authorities in the Federal Member States and are considered a key benchmark for students seeking admission to higher learning institutions. This year’s sitting marks the highest number of candidates ever to take Somalia’s unified national secondary school examinations, underscoring the continued growth of the country’s education sector.