Hargeisa, June 04 2013 (SDN) – There has been an increase in the number of students attaining higher grades in secondary and primary schools leaving exams, according to education minister Ms. Samsam Abdi Aden. Briefing the country’s House of Representatives Monday on the work of her ministry, Samsam said “Since I came to office I have tried to enhance the quality of education in secondary and primary schools with the help of education expertise in the country in order to increase the number of the students attaining higher grades in secondary and primary schools leaving exams. Another major challenge was the very structure of the country’s higher education sector. Samsam said that her ministry in collaboration with the national commission for higher education succeeded in formulating the higher education policy so as to ensure the quality of higher education. “We have begun accrediting existing universities in the country in order to ensure the quality of higher education” minister Samsam added. In August 2011 president Silanyo created national commission for higher education with the main focus is be to upgrade universities to more effective and accountable learning, research and development centers. Somaliland’s higher education system came back to life with the inauguration in November 1998 of Amoud University – the country’s first post-war institution of higher learning. There followed rapid growth in the number of universities and colleges, driven by increasing student demand for higher education. Currently there are several colleges and more than 10 universities in Somaliland. In terms of being able to offer higher education, this is a good starting point for a country with a population of 3.5 million people. The leading universities are Amoud University in the west, Hargeisa University in the capital Hargeisa, and Burao University established in 2004 in Somaliland’s second-biggest city.
SDN Hargeisa
