Friday March 22, 2019
Garowe
– The European Union jointly with the Government of the Puntland State
of Somalia launched the third phase of the Puntland Education Sector
Support Programme worth 7.3 million Euro. The initiative called ‘Waxbarashadu Waa Iftiin’
(‘Education is Light’) is implemented by CARE and Save the Children and
in close coordination with the Ministry of Education and Higher
Education, Puntland. It will enrol over 56,000 students over a 3-year
period. It reflects full alignment with the education priorities set out
in the Puntland Education Sector Strategic Plan (2017-2021) and
Sustainable Development Goal 4. The President Said Abdullahi Deni of
Puntland launched the programme at Peace and Research Development Centre
in Garowe.
The new programme will consolidate and
expand the achievements made under two previous phases of EU support
that have reached over 58,000 students; constructed 17 new schools, 228
new classrooms; and 66 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities.
This new phase will add 16 schools, 84 classrooms, 23 Water Sanitation
and Hygiene facilities and 4 secondary school laboratories. 200 new
teachers will be trained while 300 youth will be equipped with
marketable vocational skills. The programme also incorporates support
measures for children with special needs, children from pastoralist
communities and girls.
“Education is essential in alleviating
poverty, building peaceful societies and promoting social inclusion. In
the face of security related challenges that Somalia faces today,
educated youth are less likely to become radicalized, attracted to
militias and join other destabilising activities. The programme we are
launching today will go a long way in improving and expanding education
and vocational training opportunities that will benefit Somali children
and youth,” said the EU Chargé d’Affaires, Fulgencio Garrido Ruiz.
The Minister of Education and Higher
Education for the Puntland State of Somalia, Hon. Abdullahi Mohamed
Hassan appreciated longstanding partnership between the EU and the
Somali people, and in particular the sustained support to the education
sector. He added, "the new programme will support implementation of our
education sector strategic plan by prioritizing activities that foster
access to quality education, completion and transition."
CARE Somalia’s Country Director, Abdullahi
Iman stressed, "The EU investment will enable the Ministry of
Education, school communities and implementing partners to provide the
required curriculum support resources, train teachers, improve the
conditions in the schools and subsequently mobilize, enroll and retain
the students in target schools. This is the essence of quality
education."