Maryam Saleban Abokor was one of the parents who took charge.
"I came up with the idea because I watched the children around me.
They were roaming the streets because after the fall of the government,
the schools were closed," says the 50-year-old mother of five children.
"I was afraid that the children would become criminals if they were
not busy and did not learn anything." She turned to the other parents in
the neighborhood and suggested that they renovate the school and start
teaching.
Learning despite anarchy and civil war
The other parents were quickly convinced, and thus they founded the
school together 18 years ago. Everyone got involved in his or her own
way. Some donated money, others helped with renovation or cleaned up
after the work.
In Mogadishu and throughout the rest of Somalia, many schools were
established this way: Parents, religious organizations, civic groups or
local aid organizations sprang into action so that children could learn
despite anarchy and civil war.
Scars of civil war remain in Mogadishu
Although a government has been in place for a year, the parents have
maintained responsibility for the schools. The parents determine school
fees and teachers' wages.
By Somali standards, the fees are high at seven to 12 dollars (five
to nine euros) per child per month. According to estimates from aid
agencies, 40 percent of Somalis are dependent on support from relatives
abroad. At "Umulhura," teachers earn $140 per month; the director earns
just $10 more.
"That's not enough to cover costs," said Ahmed. But because five of his eight children also attend the school, he carries on.
No uniform curriculum
"We focus on the curricula of various countries," said director
Ahmed. "We've taken elements from the curriculum in the United Arab
Emirates as well as parts of the Kenyan and Saudi curriculum." A
committee of 40 parents then determines the final curriculum. That
explains why there are differing lesson plans throughout the country.
Somali school supporters have also established two umbrella
organizations that distribute certifications of achievement after final
examinations so that the education system is somewhat comparable across
the country.
Nevertheless, Ahmed and the parents are waiting impatiently for the
new government to assume its responsibility for the education sector.