Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Some Somali students get free education for 1st time in 20 years

Somalia’s weak transitional federal government on Tuesday opened a school where Somali students will be taught without paying school fees, the first time that a tuition-less educational system has been implemented in war-torn Somalia for two decades.

A ceremony to mark the launch of the school was held at the Mahmoud Mire primary and intermediate school, which is about 600 meters from the presidential palace.

Director general of the Somali education ministry, Muse Farah Heyd, who addressed the gathering, said Somali children whose parents cannot afford to pay for their education will be taught at this school.

“This school is the first of its kind opened in Somalia in 20 years and the first opportunity will be granted to the orphans and the others from poorer families—we are intended to spread the tuition-less learning throughout the country at any future time we have the capacity,” the director general said.

Some parents thanked the government for the initiative to protect their children from illiteracy.

“I would like to take this opportunity to send my gratitude and gratefulness to the Somali government and in particular to the education ministry for granting the education without fee to our children,” said Mumino Abdi on behalf of the mothers who attended the ceremony.

Warring groups in Somalia have in the past monopolized the children from poorer families as fighters.

Somali children last learned at schools without fees in December 1990, while Somalia’s former military government had paid the teachers at schools and universities.

Source: www.allheadlinenews.com

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