National Education Consultation Conference Enters Second Day in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU — The National Education Consultation Conference entered its second day in Mogadishu on Thursday, August 13, 2026, bringing together federal and state-level education ministers and officials to coordinate and strengthen Somalia’s education sector.

The conference, organised by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education, focuses on enhancing cooperation, harmonising education plans, and accelerating the development of the country’s education system. Participants are discussing priority issues affecting education in Somalia and seeking to build consensus on key reforms.

The meeting reflects ongoing efforts to rebuild Somalia’s education sector, which has been devastated by decades of conflict, and to ensure that all Somali children have access to quality education. The government has identified education as a priority area in its National Transformation Plan, with a focus on increasing enrollment, improving learning outcomes, and strengthening institutional capacity.

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

Somali students have gained global access to internationally recognised qualifications, with the Turkish Maarif Foundation School in Mogadishu launching Oxford International examinations, opening international academic pathways for Somali students.

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

Preparations for the Grade 8 examinations were completed with enhanced measures to guarantee transparency, fairness, and the integrity of the examination process.

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.

Puntland Acting President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor has inaugurated certificate examinations for thousands of students across the region, underscoring the regional government’s commitment to strengthening the education sector.

Critical Note

While the convening of the National Education Consultation Conference represents a positive step toward coordinating education policy, the gap between policy formulation and implementation remains a significant challenge. Somalia continues to have one of the lowest education enrollment rates in the world, with millions of children out of school due to conflict, displacement, poverty, and lack of infrastructure. The education system faces severe resource constraints, with many schools lacking basic facilities, qualified teachers, and learning materials.

The government must prioritise investment in education, ensure that resources reach the most marginalised communities, and address the underlying drivers of educational exclusion. The Somali people, who have endured decades of conflict, deserve an education system that prepares their children for the future and contributes to the country’s long-term development.