HirShabelle State Hosts National Education Consultation Conference in Jowhar

 

Jowhar, Somalia – 25 August 2025

HirShabelle State has taken a significant step towards improving Somalia’s education system by hosting a national education consultation conference in the city of Jowhar. The event, officially inaugurated by President Ali Abdullahi Hussein (Cali Guudlaawe), aims to harmonize education policies across Somalia’s Federal Member States and strengthen coordination between regional and federal institutions.

The conference is led by the Federal Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education and brings together representatives from all Federal Member States, including the Benadir Regional Administration. This gathering represents a critical effort to ensure that Somalia’s education system moves forward with a shared vision, unified planning, and consistent national standards.

During the opening ceremony, President Guudlaawe expressed pride in HirShabelle’s role in the national education sector, highlighting the state’s achievement as the first Federal Member State to publicly release the results of the national secondary school examinations. “We hope this conference will result in outcomes that benefit education across the entire country,” he said, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and collective progress.

Federal Education Minister Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir addressed the participants, underscoring the conference’s goal to generate strategic decisions that will shape the future of Somalia’s education sector. He stressed that unified planning and the implementation of shared national standards are essential to provide equal access to quality education for all children in the country. The minister further noted that such coordination between federal and regional institutions is vital for rebuilding and strengthening Somalia’s education infrastructure after decades of disruption.

Somalia’s education system has faced numerous challenges over the years, including prolonged conflict, displacement, and insufficient infrastructure. These obstacles have limited access to quality education and hindered the development of human capital necessary for the country’s socio-economic growth. In this context, national consultation conferences such as the one in Jowhar play a crucial role in bridging gaps, setting clear policy directions, and ensuring inclusive participation from all stakeholders in the education sector.

The conference also serves as a platform for sharing experiences, lessons learned, and best practices among the federal member states. By encouraging dialogue and collaboration, the event seeks to create actionable strategies that can improve curriculum development, teacher training, and resource allocation across Somalia. It highlights the federal government’s commitment to a coordinated approach to education, ensuring that students from all regions have the opportunity to succeed academically.

President Guudlaawe concluded the opening session with a message of optimism, expressing his hope that the conference will produce meaningful outcomes for Somalia’s education sector. He extended his best wishes to all participants, acknowledging their critical role in shaping policies that will benefit current and future generations.

The Jowhar conference is part of a broader initiative to rebuild and modernize Somalia’s education system. By fostering stronger federal-regional cooperation and promoting policy alignment, Somali authorities aim to create an inclusive and resilient educational environment that supports sustainable development and national growth.

As the country continues to recover from past disruptions, such collaborative efforts are vital for ensuring that every child in Somalia has access to quality education, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute positively to their communities and the nation as a whole.