# Ministry of Education and Science (Somaliland)

The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Somaliland (Somali: Wasaaradda Waxbarashada iyo Sayniska Somaliland) (Arabic: وزارة التعليم والعلوم) The Ministry of Education and Science of Somaliland is a national executive authority responsible for the state policy development and normative and legal regulation in the sphere of education, research, scientific, technological and innovation activities, nanotechnology, intellectual property, as well as in the sphere of nurturing, social support and social protection of students and pupils of educational institutions. The work of the Ministry of Education and Science of Somaliland is governed by the Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland, National Education Act, National Constitutional Laws, and Decrees by the President of the Republic of Somaliland. The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Somaliland worked in cooperation with other national executive bodies, executive bodies of the subjects of the Republic of Somaliland, local authorities, public associations and other institutions. The current minister is Ahmed Mohamed Diriye.

## Departments

* Formal Education department
* Non-formal Education department
* Technical and Vocational department
* Communication Information department
* Human Resource department
* Educational Resources department
* Administration and Finance department
* Quality Assurance department
* Inclusive department
* Education Balancing department
* Teacher Training college
* Somali Language Development academy
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## Somaliland Education System

The Somaliland education system has four main levels: pre-primary, primary/alternative, secondary/vocational and higher education. Pre-primary (early childhood) is now integrated into formal education and in private Quranic School systems, running for up to two to three years. Primary schooling lasts for eight years and is divided into a four year-elementary or lower primary cycle and a four-year intermediate or upper primary cycle. Secondary education and Vocational Training (as per design) also run for four years. The exception is the Arabic medium schools, which have 9 years of primary/intermediate schooling and 3 years of secondary education. The tertiary level for both systems has a minimum of two years with many running for four. Each subsector is described and assessed in detail in the relevant chapters of this report.

## Vision

Somaliland envisions education as means to prepare all learners to become life-long learners equipped with the skills, knowledge and attitudes to be successfully productive citizens, This supports the Government of Somaliland's Vision 2030, which states that Somaliland will be “A nation whose citizens enjoy equitable and quality education.” The Vision provides a roadmap to ensure that no one is left behind in national development, through its intent on affirmative action. Vision 2030 inspires Somalilanders to focus on commonly owned goals concerning shared values and principles around which they can rally to build a prosperous nation.

## National Education Objectives

* To National goals for the education sector are further detailed for the education sector as follows:
* To build the foundation for learners to be committed to the preservation and enrichment of their culture, and Islamic values.
* To provide learners with appropriate knowledge, insights, skills and values as well as empowering them to realize their potential that will enable them to make worthwhile contributions to society.
* To provide children with the listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in Somali, Arabic, and English.
* To provide a sound foundation of arithmetic and the application of mathematics to practical problems.
* To build the foundation for learners in the three areas of science while developing for them the practical application skills.
* To lay the foundation for basic information technology, and the awareness of the role of technology in national development
* To support learners, acquire practical skills and manual dexterity through productive activities integrated into the actual curriculum.
* Provide learners the opportunity to develop their individual talents and ability to acquire critical thinking, self-expression, self-reliance, and logical judgment
* To provide students the opportunities to appreciate learning and develop desire to continue learning
* To prepare students for tertiary and higher education, technical and vocational trainings.
* To provide young people with the basic skills which help them to contribute various communities in Somaliland in areas of animal husbandry, fishing, agriculture, budgeting, family welfare, community development, care for the environment, community health and physical fitness.
* To raise awareness among pupils about issues including reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and STDs.

## Former Ministers of Education And Science

| Minister | Period |
| Hassan Haji Mohamoud | 5 July 2003 – 27 July 2010 |
| Zamzam Abdi Adan | 27 July 2010 – 28 February 2015 |
| Abdillahi Ibrahim Habane | 28 February 2015 – 14 December 2017 |
| Yasin Haji Mohamoud | 14 December 2017 – 10 November 2018 |
| Osman Adan Jama | 10 November 2018 – 1 December 2019 |
| Ahmed Mohamed Dirie | 1 December 2019 – 22 November 2023 |
| Ahmed Aden Buhane | 22 November 2023 - present |