Mohamed Hersi Shire
2 min readJul 24, 2023

GIRLS EDUCATION IN SOMALIA.

With slightly more men than women, over 70% of Somalia’s population is under the age of 30. With a 67 percent unemployment rate, Somalia’s high youth population points to the necessity for economic growth. Education is a crucial aspect for Somalia in order to guarantee a greater standard of life and an improved economy as Somali youth age.
Although Somalia’s rural and urban communities both have issues with education, access to school in rural areas is significantly more constrained. Only 22% of pastoralist children receive a formal education, while nomadic pastoralists make up around 65 percent of the Somali population. Less than half of the 22 percent of people who attend formal schooling are female.
low levels of enrollment in schools

Female genital mutilation, or FGM, is one of the main causes of a gender gap in schooling for girls. Approximately 98 percent of Somali girls have undergone FGM, according to UNICEF. These activities are frequently carried out by untrained physicians in unsanitary settings. Thousands of girls stop attending school as a result of FGM due to the painful infections and scarring that might develop as a result, as well as the potential of marriage.
In Somalia, young girls are frequently married off, which prevents them from enrolling in school. By the age of 18, 45 percent of females were already married, according to research. But thanks to education efforts, more daughters are able to continue their studies.
Somali girls must likewise adhere to gender norms.

These ten facts concerning girls’ education in Somalia show the disparity between boys’ and girls’ education. Girls’ access to a formal education has been hampered by challenges with the economy, political unrest, as well as customs like FGM and expected housework. Despite these issues, there are groups and institutions working to increase the number of girls in the nation who are educated, and this work must advance. Equal educational opportunities for men and women are essential in Somalia if the young population is to have improved future prospects.