PASOS’s Strategic Interventions in Education

To address these challenges, PASOS adopts an integrated, community-centered approach in partnership with UN agencies, international donors, and local authorities.

1. Access to Quality Education

• Rehabilitating damaged schools and constructing temporary learning centers (TLCs) for displaced children.
• Providing school supplies, uniforms, and scholarships to reduce financial barriers for vulnerable families.

2. Teacher Training & Capacity Building

• Conducting professional development programs for teachers in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
• Promoting accelerated learning programs (ALP) to help over-age children catch up on missed schooling.

3. Girls’ Education & Gender Equity

• Establishing girl-friendly schools with sanitation facilities and safe learning environments.
• Engaging community leaders and parents through awareness campaigns on the importance of girls’ education.

4. Alternative & Non-Formal Education

• Supporting vocational training and youth skills programs for adolescents who cannot re-enter formal schooling.
• Implementing mobile education units for pastoralist and nomadic communities.

5. Advocacy & Policy Engagement

• Collaborating with the Somalia Education Cluster and Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to align with the National Education Sector Strategic Plan (NESSP).
• Advocating for increased education funding from donors and government to ensure long-term sustainability.

Education in Somalia – PASOS’s Commitment to Learning and Empowerment

Somalia’s education system faces severe challenges due to decades of conflict, displacement, and underfunding leaving millions of children without access to quality schooling. According to UNICEF over 3 million school aged children (50% of whom are girls) are out of school one of the highest rates in the world. The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) reports that only 30% of children complete primary education while secondary school enrollment drops to less than 20% with stark disparities between urban and rural areas. Additionally, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics highlights that adult literacy rates stand at just 37% severely limiting economic opportunities and social development. The barriers to education in Somalia are multifaceted:

• Infrastructure gaps: 70% of schools are partially or fully damaged due to conflict and natural disasters (OCHA).
• Teacher shortages: The pupil to teacher ratio exceeds 70:1 in some regions with many educators lacking formal training (Education Cluster Somalia).
• Gender inequality: Cultural norms early marriages and safety concerns prevent girls from attending school only 36% of primary students are female (UNICEF).
• Displacement crisis: Over 2.9 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) struggle to access education, with less than 25% of IDP children enrolled in school (UNHCR).

Moving Forward: A Brighter Future for Somali Children

Education is a fundamental right and a catalyst for peace and development. Through emergency education support, teacher training, and community mobilization, PASOS strives to reduce dropout rates, improve learning outcomes, and empower Somalia’s next generation. By aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and the Somali government’s recovery plans, PASOS contributes to a future where every child has access to safe, inclusive, and equitable learning opportunities.