U.S announces $50m to boost education of vulnerable children in Somalia
The US government has announced an additional $50 million to support education in Somalia adding to $65 million the U.S government’s injection into the education sector in Somalia.
Somali Embassy in Somalia said this week the funds will ‘aims to increase access to quality education and support accelerated learning for out-of-school children and youth who have been persistently left behind.’
U.S ambassador to Somalia Donald Yamamoto said the funds will be instrumental in enabling vulnerable students to access education.
“This U.S. Government investment will give vulnerable Somali students vital skills so that they can contribute in a meaningful way to their society. The program focuses on teacher quality and student learning, and invokes the spirit of other successful Somali-led literacy campaigns.”
This latest announcement brings USAID’s ongoing investments in education in Somalia to $65 million. USAID is currently supporting a $10 million project implemented by UNICEF and a $5 million contribution to the Girls’ Education Challenge program managed by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development.
The five year programme dubbed Bar Ama Baro (“Teach or Learn” in Somali) will target Somali out-of-school children and youth between approximately 8-15 years old. The program aims to: increase student enrollment in schools; create safe spaces to learn; improve students’ literacy, numeracy and socio-emotional skills; and enhance the Federal Government of Somalia’s capacity to support these school, a statement from embassy read in part.
Education minister Abdullahi “Godah” Barre thanked the U.S government noting the programme will be a boost for disadvantaged children.
“I welcome the launch of the new USAID project and overall support from the People of America. My gratitude goes to USAID for its tireless support in education for our children, particularly disadvantaged groups. I trust that this intervention will make a positive impact on our education system, particularly access, quality and governance.”
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