MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education on Saturday announced the results of the 2025–2026 national Grade 12 examination, with 40,037 out of 42,916 students who sat for the examination successfully passing, representing a 93 percent pass rate.
The results mark an important milestone for Somalia’s education sector and thousands of students who have completed secondary school and are now preparing to pursue higher education, vocational training or enter the workforce.
According to the Ministry, 2,809 students did not pass the examination.
The announcement reflects the continued expansion and institutionalization of Somalia’s national examination system, which has been strengthened in recent years as the government seeks to establish a common national standard for assessing secondary school students across the country.
Minister Commends Students and Education Community
Speaking during the announcement, Minister of Education, Culture and Higher Education Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir congratulated the students who successfully completed the examination and praised teachers, parents and members of the public for their cooperation in protecting the integrity of the examination process.
The Minister particularly highlighted the successful prevention of examination-paper leaks, an issue that has previously posed a major challenge to Somalia’s national examinations.
He said millions of examination papers were handled during the process without being stolen or circulated on social media, attributing the achievement to the collective efforts of education officials, teachers, students, parents, security personnel and the wider Somali public.
The Minister said the successful protection of the examination papers represented an important improvement in the credibility and security of Somalia’s national examination system.
Government Spent More Than $1.2 Million on Examination
The Ministry also disclosed that the Federal Government spent approximately $1,268,619 to organize and administer this year’s national examination.
Minister Farah described the expenditure as an investment financed by Somali taxpayers and stressed the importance of maintaining a credible national assessment system for the country’s education sector.
The funds were used to support various stages of the examination process, including preparation, printing, transportation, administration, supervision and other logistical requirements.
The government’s continued investment in the national examination comes as the number of students sitting for the examination continues to grow.
Students Can Obtain Certificates Online
The Ministry also announced an important digital service for students who have completed the examination.
Students who are registered with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) can now obtain their examination certificates online without having to travel to the Ministry of Education’s offices.
The initiative is expected to reduce administrative delays and make it easier for students to access official academic documents, particularly those living outside Mogadishu.
The move also forms part of broader efforts by the government to digitize public services and link educational records with national identification systems.
Prime Minister Congratulates Top-Performing Students
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre congratulated students who passed the examination and spoke by telephone with the three highest-scoring students and their parents.
The Prime Minister praised the students for their achievement and emphasized the importance of education in Somalia’s national development.
“A nation is built and transformed through its educated generation,” Hamza said, adding that greater access to education brings Somalia closer to positive social and economic change.
He also congratulated teachers, parents and the wider education community for their role in supporting students throughout their secondary education.
Government to Fund Education for Top Three Students
In recognition of their outstanding performance, Prime Minister Hamza announced that the Federal Government would cover the full cost of education for the three top-performing students.
The students are:
- Mohamed Isse Daahir Yuusuf — Hawl-Wadaag School, Mogadishu, Banadir Region.
- Farhia Farah Egal — Ahmed Binu Hambal School, Kismayo, Jubaland.
- Amina Khalid Adalla Ahmed — Imaamu Shaafici (Sh. Madar) School, Mogadishu, Banadir Region.
The Prime Minister praised the three students for achieving the highest scores and credited their success to their determination, hard work and the support they received from their parents, teachers and schools.
The recognition also highlights the government’s intention to encourage academic excellence and motivate students across Somalia to pursue higher educational achievement.
A Milestone for Somalia’s Education System
The release of the 2025–2026 examination results represents more than the publication of student scores. It marks another stage in Somalia’s efforts to strengthen a unified national education system after decades of disruption and institutional challenges.
The national Grade 12 examination provides a common assessment framework for students from different regions and schools, helping the government evaluate educational outcomes and identify areas that require further investment and improvement.
The 93 percent pass rate also indicates a high level of overall student success, although the Ministry will need to continue monitoring differences in performance between regions, schools and individual students to ensure that the national examination remains a fair and reliable measure of educational achievement.
Looking Ahead
For the 40,037 students who passed, the announcement opens the door to the next stage of their education and professional lives. Many will seek admission to universities and colleges, while others may pursue vocational education, professional training or employment opportunities.
For the 2,809 students who did not pass, the results represent an opportunity for further academic support and preparation.
The Ministry’s decision to provide another opportunity for students who missed the examination for documented and legitimate reasons also demonstrates the government’s effort to balance examination standards with fairness and consideration for exceptional circumstances.
The successful administration of this year’s examination, the prevention of large-scale paper leaks, the expansion of digital certificate services and the recognition of top-performing students all point to a national examination system that is becoming increasingly institutionalized.
As Somalia continues to rebuild and expand its education sector, maintaining examination integrity, transparency, equal opportunity and investment in teachers and schools will remain critical to ensuring that national examination results accurately reflect the knowledge and abilities of Somali students.
The 2025–2026 results therefore represent both an achievement for thousands of individual students and another step in Somalia’s broader effort to build a stronger, more unified and trusted national education system.
