Somalia: Despite challenges, education paves the way for a promising future

Story highlights

In Somalia, approximately 3 million out of 5 million school-age children and youth are not attending school.
A GPE-funded program focused on the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms as well as the installation of WASH facilities to improve access to education and provide an environment conducive to learning.
Hanan* and Fadumo*, both 16 years old, are two of the more than 93,000 students who reaped the benefits of this program.

This story was written in collaboration with Save the Children Somalia.

Somalia is home to a substantial out-of-school population, with approximately 3 million out of 5 million school-age children and youth not attending school. The education system faces several challenges that affect access to and the delivery of quality learning, including a shortage of qualified teachers, inadequate teaching and learning materials, overcrowded classrooms and insufficient funding.

Another critical challenge is the absence of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in most schools. This further impacts equitable access to education, particularly for girls, who face challenges related to menstrual hygiene management.

Gender disparity in education is stark in Somalia: girls' enrollment in secondary school is a mere 7.9%, and large numbers of girls drop out of secondary school as a result of discriminatory gender norms such as early pregnancy, early marriage and the demand for girls’ involvement in household work. This gender imbalance extends to the teaching profession: over 90% of primary and secondary teachers are male.

“I am 16 years old and one of seven children. I am in my second year of high school. Before, our school did not have appropriate infrastructure, and the absence of gender-segregated latrines and proper sanitation was disheartening. During our menstrual periods, we had to miss school, which disrupted our learning and affected our performance. Clean drinking water was rare, and the handwashing facilities defective. This compromised our health and well-being, making it difficult for us to focus on our studies."

Hanan

16-year-old student, Mogadishu, Somalia

16-year-old Hanan dealt with many challenges in her school in Mogadishu. Her school did not have adequate school infrastructure including separate latrines for girls. However, her high school journey has been transformed by the establishment of girl-friendly spaces and improved sanitation facilities.
Credit: Awale Koronto/Save the Children

“I live with my mother, the bedrock of our family, as my father passed away when I was 6 years old. When I first joined this school, the conditions were challenging. The classrooms were overcrowded, with more than 65 students crammed into a tiny room. It was a struggle to find a place to sit, and sometimes five of us had to share a table meant for three, or sit on the floor.”

Fadumo

16-year-old student, Hiran region, Somalia

The introduction of spacious classrooms, safe drinking water and improved sanitation facilities not only enhanced Fadumo's learning experience, but also encouraged her dream of becoming a teacher.
Credit: Awale Koronto/Save the Children

Improving access to education

The GPE-funded program, implemented in partnership with Save the Children International, Concern Worldwide and the Federal Government of Somalia between 2020 and 2023, sought to enhance the learning environment for Somali children in the federal member states of Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Southwest and Jubaland as well as in Mogadishu, Banadir Regional Administration.

A key intervention of the program was the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms and WASH facilities, along with the provision of school furniture. Thanks to the program, 400 new classrooms across 147 schools were constructed and 394 classrooms rehabilitated. Moreover, 699 classrooms were provided with furniture, and each received 15 sets of desks.

This school in the city of Beledweyne, Somalia, was one of 147 schools in targeted locations supported by the GPE-funded program through school renovations and expansion.
Credit: Awale Koronto/Save the Children
With funds from GPE, Save the Children International and Concern Worldwide rehabilitated and constructed 794 classrooms in 147 schools in Somalia, including this school in Southwest State.
Credit: Awale Koronto/Save the Children

The construction of 400 new classrooms in 147 schools supported access to education for 33,896 out-of-school children. Girls had the highest enrollment increase, with a 59% surge.

Female students at Hamar Jajab School in Mogadishu, Somalia, enjoy the learning spaces and furniture provided under the GPE-funded program.
Credit: Awale Koronto/Save the Children
Female students at Hamar Jajab School in Mogadishu, Somalia, enjoy the learning spaces and furniture provided under the GPE-funded program.
Credit: Awale Koronto/Save the Children

Additionally, 399 WASH facilities, including gender-friendly latrines and handwashing facilities as well as water tanks in locations experiencing water shortages or far from water sources, were installed in the supported schools, exceeding the initial target of 300.

Students using the WASH facilities installed with the support of the GPE-funded program in Somalia.

Credit: Awale Koronto/Save the Children

Students using the WASH facilities installed with the support of the GPE-funded program in Somalia.

Credit: Awale Koronto/Save the Children

Under the GPE-funded program, nearly 400 WASH facilities including gender-friendly latrines, handwashing facilities and water tanks, were constructed to enhance the learning environment of targeted schools in Somalia.

Credit: Awale Koronto/Save the Children

Under the GPE-funded program, nearly 400 WASH facilities including gender-friendly latrines, handwashing facilities and water tanks, were constructed to enhance the learning environment of targeted schools in Somalia.

Credit: Awale Koronto/Save the Children

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An independent endline evaluation of the program commissioned by Save the Children found that the installed water tanks facilitated water trucking during droughts, ensuring a stable water supply for the schools. The water tanks also supported continuity of schooling during the pandemic and helped to protect against communicable hygiene illnesses that tend to contribute to school absenteeism.

“The girl-friendly sanitation spaces have provided us with privacy and cleanliness. We no longer have to leave school during our menstrual periods because we have access to proper sanitation resources right at school. We also have fresh drinking water. All the students can now practice good hygiene, promoting our overall health and well-being. We no longer have to leave school during our menstrual periods because we have access to proper sanitation resources right at school. We also have fresh drinking water. All the students can now practice good hygiene, promoting our overall health and well-being.”

Hanan

16-year-old student, Mogadishu, Somalia

“They built us new classrooms that were spacious, comfortable and furnished. It was a relief to have enough space to study and learn. They also provided us with clean drinking water on the school premises, and built separate and improved toilets specifically for girls, providing us with privacy and dignity.”

Fadumo

16-year-old student, Hiran region, Somalia

The GPE-funded program also constructed 50 libraries in the target schools and provided more than 105,900 reading materials to foster a culture of reading.

Hanan, a 16-year-old student, browses the resources available in the new library constructed by the GPE-funded program at her school in Hamar Weyne District, Mogadishu. The program constructed 50 libraries in target schools with an aim to provide students with safe learning spaces and improve the quality of education.
Credit: Awale Koronto/Save the Children
Mohamed*, a grade eight student at a school in Kismayo, Jubaland, reading in the new library made possible by the GPE-funded program.
Credit: Awale Koronto/Save the Children

The percentage of schools achieving quality of learning environment standards, as assessed by Save the Children, increased from 34% to 92% over the period 2021–2023.

Now more Somali children, including girls, have a chance to study and can enjoy learning in better conditions.

"These improvements have made my school experience better and created a good learning environment. Having clean water, functional toilets and proper handwashing facilities has empowered us girls to focus on our studies and actively participate in the classroom. I am determined to become a role model for girls in my community and break down the barriers that hinder their access to education. I want to make my family and community, especially my mother, proud by focusing on my studies."

Hanan

16-year-old student, Mogadishu