MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has officially launched the National Form Four Examinations in Mogadishu, describing the process as a major step in strengthening the country’s education system and rebuilding national institutions.
According to the Ministry of Education, more than 44,000 students are sitting for the 2025/2026 secondary school examinations across 58 districts nationwide. The exams are being conducted under strict supervision, with education officials saying security measures and monitoring systems have been strengthened to ensure fairness and credibility.
The Federal Government of Somalia’s Ministry of Higher Education oversees the national examination system in most federal member states, with the exception of Puntland and Somaliland, which continue to operate independent education structures and examination systems.
Officials say the unified national examination framework is part of broader efforts to standardize education across Somalia, improve academic quality, and ensure equal assessment opportunities for students in different regions of the country.
Earlier this week, the Grade Eight national examinations were also completed successfully, with nearly 100,000 students taking part across the four federal member states and the Banadir Regional Administration. Education authorities described the turnout as one of the largest in recent years, reflecting growing access to schooling in many parts of the country.
However, Puntland State once again declined to participate in the federal government’s unified examination system, maintaining its own education administration. The disagreement reflects ongoing political and administrative differences between Puntland and the federal government over control of education and other state institutions.
Despite these divisions, the federal government has continued to expand the national examination program, which this year marks its 11th consecutive implementation since its introduction in 2015. Authorities say the initiative has helped bring greater structure to Somalia’s education sector after decades of conflict and institutional collapse.
Education experts note that while progress has been made in standardizing exams, challenges remain, including disparities in resources, teacher training, infrastructure, and coordination between federal and regional education authorities.
As examinations continue across the country, officials have called on communities, parents, and security agencies to support the process, emphasizing that education remains central to Somalia’s long-term recovery and development.
