Primary school textbooks launched in Mogadishu
Mogadishu, Monday 11 June 2018 – In a ceremony chaired by the Minister of Education and under the auspices of the European Union, Somalia saw the launch of its new textbooks for lower-primary school. Widely attended by regional education authorities, private education umbrellas, and textbook writers and editors, the launch event marked a major milestone for education in Somalia: the books symbolise the revival of public education after many years of conflict that saw teachers using a wide range of different curricula and learning materials not always suitable to the Somali context.
The new primary school textbooks are the culmination of a process which included extensive consultations by the Ministry of Education, with support from the EU, with over 4000 stakeholders, including a large number of community representatives and young people.
"The new textbooks are a product of joint efforts by the ministry, the curriculum taskforce, Somali educationists and partners. We have now taken charge of our own destiny", stated Federal Minister of Education, Abdirahman Dahir Osman.
The challenge of radicalisation of young people and children still remains in Somalia. A fundamental way to counter the spread of violent extremism is to support the implementation of a national curriculum that instils values and promotes peace and citizenship through the use of textbooks that reflect the core values held by the Somali society.
"Children in Somalia are now finally able to learn in school with books that are written in their own language, made in their own country, and set in a context that is familiar to them," said the EU Chargé d’Affaires, Pencho Garrido Ruiz. "I am confident that the textbooks will give school children across Somalia the fundamental tools, knowledge and skills they need in order to become citizens that actively contribute to Somali society and the revival of Somali culture."
The European Union is the main donor to the education sector in Somalia with a contribution of Euro 60 million from 2014 to 2020. Since 2012, the EU has invested Euro 10.6 million in curriculum reform in Somalia through a dedicated project implemented by Africa Educational Trust, which has laid the basis for the development of the textbooks. EU support has significantly contributed to strengthening the capacity of the education authorities to implement the new curriculum framework and hold annual school-leaving exams that assess the learning outcomes of the Somali curriculum.
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