For Immediate Release
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Somalia and United States Dedicated to Expanding Quality Education for Somali Children
Mogadishu: Increasing access to quality education opportunities is a key priority for the Somali Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education of Somalia (MOECHE). Over 65 percent of Somali children are not enrolled in school, which means the need to expand appropriate and accessible education in Somalia is not just critical - it is urgent. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Somalia partners with the MoECHE to strengthen the education system and improve learning outcomes by increasing access to education and dismantling key barriers to quality learning.
Today USAID’s Mission Director, Sheri-Nouane Duncan-Jones met with the Minister of Education, Honorable Minister Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir, to reconfirm our joint commitment to advance learning for girls, boys and young people in Somalia. Through Bar ama Baro (BAB Learn and Teach), the Adolescent Girls Education in Somalia (AGES), Stabilization Through Education Program (STEP), USAID has partnered with Federal and Federal Member States’ education ministries to establish quality education standards and policies, and expand access to education for 150,000 learners, including out-of-school children and youth in newly liberated areas.
“Every child in Somalia deserves an education. And, for Somalia to truly transform, we must invest in our most important asset – our children," said H.E. Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir, Minister of Education, Culture, and Higher Education. "In addition to the 3,000 teachers already employed, our commitment to strengthening education leadership includes hiring, training, and deploying an additional 3,000 teachers on the government payroll, with increased attention to female educators and leaders."
“USAID is committed to working in close partnership with the Somali Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education to expand access to education across the country,” said USAID Somalia Mission Director Sheri-Nouane Duncan Jones. “We commend the leadership of Minister Farah in education, particularly hiring, training and deploying 3,000 new teachers, contributing to the improvement of education in Somalia by more than tripling the number of teachers on the government payroll.”
USAID will continue to partner with the Federal Government of Somalia in developing the next generation of students, educators and leaders in the education sector.
For additional information, please contact:
--------------------------------------------
Anna Spector, USAID Somalia, Acting Office Director, aspector@usaid.gov
Danielle Botti, USAID Somalia Development Outreach and Communications Specialist, dbotti@usaid.gov