Thursday June 20, 2024
FILE - Somali students sit for their national exams in May 2023. This year's exams mark a significant milestone, especially for students from newly liberated districts taking the exams for the first time in 33 years.
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Chinese Embassy in Somalia announced on Wednesday that it will offer financial awards to the top 50 students in Somalia's National Examinations in 2024. The awards, ranging from $1,000 to $400, aim to enhance the friendship between China and Somalia and invest in Somalia's future, according to Chen Wendi, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy.
Approximately 37,200 students are expected to sit for the national examinations on June 22. Embassy officials stated during the press conference in Mogadishu that financial support will be given based on examination rankings. Mohamed Osman Omar (Nastaro), a member of the Federal Parliament of Somalia's Committee for Social Affairs, endorsed the initiative and highlighted the Embassy's previous support through full scholarship opportunities.
The national examinations, reintroduced ten years ago after nearly three decades of disruption, are a significant milestone in Somalia's education sector. This year, students from recently liberated districts such as Adan-Yabal, Harardhere, and Elder will take the exams for the first time in 33 years. These districts, located in the Middle Shabelle and Galgadud regions, were freed from al-Shabab control in late 2022 and early 2023 by Somali security forces and local clan militias.
The government's commitment to conducting examinations in these areas highlights its effort to provide educational opportunities to all Somali students, especially those who have lived under the terror group's rule for years. Somali educators hope that the China-Somalia Friendship Student Award Program will motivate students to excel in their studies and contribute positively to Somalia's future.