Monday July 15, 2024
Somali public school teachers protest outside the Ministry of Education in Mogadishu against job terminations and low pay. They demand justice and better working conditions as their contracts are set to end on August 31. Credit: BBC
Mogadishu (HOL) — Teachers from Somalia's public schools gathered outside the Ministry of Education in Mogadishu on Sunday to protest the termination of their contracts, effective August 31. Holding placards and chanting, "We demand justice, not oppression," the teachers expressed their frustration over being asked to leave their jobs without adequate notice or compensation.
"Is it fair to tell a teacher who has worked for 11 years to leave?" one placard read. The protesting teachers chanted, "We demand justice, not oppression."
Many teachers said they were hired in 2015 following a Ministry of Education recruitment drive. They underwent examinations and training at Mogadishu University before being employed. One teacher, preferring to remain anonymous, said, "We completed our training, passed the ministry's test, and were then employed."
The teachers argued they had endured numerous challenges, including working through conflict and bombings. Khadija Sheikh Abukar, a teacher at Ex-Karaan School who began her career in 1988, told the BBC Somali Service, "We worked under difficult circumstances despite the absence of a central government."
Khadija Sheikh Abukar, a veteran teacher and member of the protesting committee, addresses the media in Mogadishu. She highlights the hardships faced by Somali teachers and their demand for fair treatment as their contracts are set to end on August 31. Credit: BBC
Khadija added that they were informed that next month would be the last they would receive their paycheques. "As national teachers who have faced hardships in nurturing the youth, being told now to leave is unacceptable," she said.
The protest is part of a larger context of issues within Somalia's education system. Teachers have long reported being demoralized by low pay, often not matching the rising living costs and lack of support. Many teachers take on additional jobs to supplement their income, and some move to the outskirts of the city to find cheaper housing, resulting in longer commutes and further strain.
Despite the government's recent efforts to dramatically improve education, including quadrupling the education budget in January 2023 and allocating funds for hiring 3,000 new teachers in 2024., challenges persist. In July 2024, another recruitment drive for 3,000 teachers was announced. These initiatives aim to improve teacher-student ratios and educational outcomes, but the implementation has faced hurdles.