Part III: Somaliland Education Series

“Our lives begin to end the day we keep silent from what matters.”M.L.King
“The function of education is to teach one to think.” M.L.King

“Dad Waynahaan Hanuuninaa Haasaa Winaa Danta U Hirnaa.” Hibo M. Hudoon (Nuura)

“Waxanahay Wabiga Dugsiyada Waxanahay Waanada Macalinka.” The great teacher and leading vocalist revolutionary singer Mohamed Mogeh (Allah Bless His Soul) 

I would like to congratulate Awdal/Selel citizens of Somaliland who just formed the new roads construction alliance also known as Awdal, and Salel Roads Development Association (ASARDA). The idea is to build the basic infra-structure of the state and beyond. Again the pioneering spirit of Awdal and Salel has emerged in full force. No development is possible Without good roads and ports. This new miracle has happened on the 23rd of March, 2010.

Introduction: Brief History of World Education
As early civilizations sprang up in the crescent valley of Egypt and Mesopotamia. from early on they understood the importance of organized education. As they build government and courts they needed to create records and that impetus led to the invention of writing in Mesopotamia in 3100 BC. Then after they opened up schools where reading and writing was learned.
Ancient Greeks started education as a tool for worship for their Gods.
In ancient militaristic city-state of Sparta the purpose of education was to produce soldiers for their military.

In the other Greek city-state of Athens the purpose of education was to cultivate a citizen who learns about art in both peace and war times.
The Renaissance, began in Italy in the 14th century and later on expanded to other parts Europe in the 15th and 6th centuries. The Renaissance was a revolution destined against the narrow-minded and other worldliness of the Middle Ages. For inspiration the early Renaissance humanists turned to the ideals expressed in the literature of ancient Greece. Like the Greeks, they wanted education to develop man’s intellectual, spiritual, and physical powers for the enrichment of life. The basically see education as a tool that enriches the brain and enhances man’s intellectual prowess. 
In the 17th and 18th century Europe Large of schools show neither growth nor improvement for a very long time. At the time the rudimentary European education was marred by incompetent teacher and the discipline was cruel. The learning methods were mostly through the memorization of words, sentences, and facts that were too complex for children to comprehend. Most members of the lower classes got no schooling whatsoever, and what some did get was at the hands of poorly trained teachers who more often than not were themselves barely educated.
In colonial America or the 13th American colonies, while the schools that the colonists established in the 17th century in the New England, Southern, and Middle colonies differed from one another, the education they were delivering was a prototype of the education they left behind in Europe.Those who did go to elementary schools were taught reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion. In those days learning was primarily composed of  memorizing, and corporal punishment was very common at the time. The teachers were no better prepared, and perhaps less so, than the teachers in Europe.
The prestigious Harvard University of today was opened its doors in 1636. The original purpose of its opening was to teach students Latin,so that they can work in the church.

In the 19th century the spirit of nationalism grew strong in Europe and, with it, the belief in the power of education to shape the future of nations as well as individuals. Other European countries followed Prussia’s example and eventually established government school systems. France had one by the 1880s, and by the 1890s the primary schools in England were free and compulsory.
The attitude toward women, too, was slowly changing. In mid 19th century both France and Germany have started high school education. At the time only few people were talking about coeducation. It was a topic many in those societies can barely talk about in those days.  
American educational was basically began by a movement that supports the creation of state-supported, secular free schools for all children. Officially it was started in the 1820s. The first public schools were elementary schools. The movement gained strength in 1837 when Massachusetts established a state board of education. After a while the Massachusetts model has spread to many other parts of the country. 

Education in Adal and Harar

Though not written about as much as the named civilizations and cultures Ancient Adal and Harrar were in their times great centers of learning and scholarship in their times. Students used to come from all over the Horn of Africa and beyond seeking education and enlightenment in the twin cities and later on in Sahel which was the ancient name for Berbera, Somaliland’s modern sea port. These students were used to be sent to ancient Damascus and Egypt.  According to a book by the name of Masalik Al-Absaar by a preeminent Egyptian writer called  “Subhu Al-Ahsa” students from Zeila and Harrar used to go to Damascus, Cairo, Mecca and Madina for scholarship and further studies. He went further than that by saying in the famous ancient Muslim university of Jama-at-Al-Azhar in Cairo, Egypt, students from Adal used to have their own hostiles where they live at the duration of their scholarship. Though so much history is still buried beneath these historical city, it has produced great well-known scholars such as Sh. Yususf Al-Kawnin, Jamal Diin Al-Zeili, Sh. Abdulramhamn Al-Zeili and many others. Great leaders, and warriors such Imam Ahmed Gurey, Saadin, Jamal Diin, Dunyahuur and others. In the 19th century and the beginning of 20th century Zeila has produced great business, and community leaders such as  Haji Khayre, Haji, Diide, Jama Zeili, Haji Tamud, Haji Kuul, Haji Abdi, Haji Omar H. Khayre and so many others. 

        
If you want to see the work of local visionaries in action, It you want to see unsung leaders inspiring youngsters, mentoring, leading, and motivating people, If you want to see grass roots miracle in action, If you want to see people minding their business and not asking any help from the so-called “international organizations also known as the international legal mafia who are so good in how to extort funds, milk the world in the name of helping needy people.” If you want to see a new paradigm shift come to Hargeisa, Borama, Zeila, Burao, Berbera, Owdweyne, Lugahaya, Gabta, Shiek, Las Anod, Eiregavo, Gabiley, Dilla, Garba Dadar and many other places. You won’t be disappointed had you make to these places. What you will see will change you for ever, lift your spirits and will definitely motivate you to action. In all the above names cities, towns and small villages some kind of a grass work is going on. In all these places the local people have taken matters into their hands. These people are on the move and building hospitals, clinics, digging wells, building schools, colleges, Universities, bridges. Republican here in the United States talk about small government but their talk is largely a hogwash and an empty rhetoric. If you want to see a real small government in action, go to the least probable place, visit the above-named places, these people are doing huge developmental activities with very little or no outside help at all. The latest news regarding infra structure was a new roads construction collision just formed in Borama. The new roads construction alliance is  also known as Awdal and Salel Roads Development Association (ASARDA). .

Brief Background Information

For over 500 years. Somaliland was the center of education and especially in Zeila and the coastal cities such as Berbera and Bulhaar. Moreover Harar was also part of the ancient Somaliland which was also a city of enlightenment, education and scholarship. All that was changed in 1887 when Menelik II the expansionist emperor of the then Abyssinia, with the help of the two preeminent colonial imperial powers of Britain and France.
Amoud Universities was founded in 1997 with two classes and three teachers. The University was only composed of only two faculties at the time.The first time enrollment was about 50 students. the help of the Somaliland government. They may get advice and occasional monetary help but these local groups and individuals have done 96% of the work. The history of the Horn of Africa starts right here in Awdal, right hear in Somaliland. Enlightenment, edication, self-help/reliance, first democracy, and the Balwo started right here. Outsiders and those who have nothing much to brag about talked about the history of Zeila, Harrar and ancient Adal, and Somaliland. They attempted to meander around the subject, the dance around the topic by ignoring the people who were the center of that glorious civilizations. These carpet beggars tried to claim a piece of that civilization, poetry, folklore and history but they often ignore aor the people who were the center of that civilization. These people are in Awdal, Djibouti and Somaliland. They are the people who build that civilization. Today they are building Amoud, EELO, Hargeisa, Burao, Berbera, Eiregavo and Las Anod universities. They are building hospitals, clinics and MCHs. They are doing all those things without outside handouts. The things they are are doing self-less endeavors. They are are getting from  all the community, the rural, farmers, urban dwellers, business people and the diaspora. The third phase of these full press community efforts the infra structure. What is see is nothing new. This is something people used to do in this area for thosands of uears. It is called love of village, town, citiy, country and community. Few schores of years back it was the town of Boon, Somaliland not Bonne Germany where what the time called “Iskaa Wax Iqabso” which basically means help your self. For the the thirty years we lost our independence that spirit was severely inhibited    

Rebirth of Education During the Advent of Somaliland’s Second Republic
 
This country was completely destroyed during Somaliland’s war of Independence or the revolutionary war. Somali land reacquired Independence in 1991. Despite tremendous odds the country is enjoying relative peace in a volatile region. Somaliand is surrounded by hostile dictators. These dictators are also hostile to each other. All of them are day and day out conniving, scheming and strategizing destroy each other also sabotage and destroy Somaliland. They running around all over the world and denying and ignoring Somaliand’s right to self-determination. Despite all those odds Somaliand moved forward and started to rebuilt their country, which was completely destroyed by Siyad Barre’s genocidal dictatorship.

When Somaliland acquired independence 1991, there were only few standing schools and the enrollment of students in the primary, intermediate and high schools was around 2000. Immediately Somaliland started building their own schools from the village level. A mass movement of education similar to the mass educational  movements in the past, has been rekindled and all of a sudden all Somaliland communities have to come together and, started building their schools without waiting for the international mafia organizations who are around the world and engaged in endless fund raising efforts. 99% of every dollar they raised in the name of some one who needs education, goes back to their pockets. That is why Somalilanders have bypassed these predatory organizations who have been feasting on the misery of the unfortunate and the dispossessed. To make a long story short. The relentless movement did not stop on building and establishing K-12 education only. They quickly moved in thinking of establishing higher education and especially universities without the help of any institution, government or international mafia or predatory organization. Amoud University is the first post-conflict University in Somaliland, it has been in the drawing boards and in the  discussion forums beginning from 1993.

Forget About the International Mafia Organizations also Known as UN Agencies

They completely  forgot about the so-called international organizations, who come to Somaliland every now and then. Their visits as they claim is always about fact finding, they write distorted, erroneous and forged reports and no fruits never come from their frequent visits. They usually write these reports in such a way as to never give a good objective report. In other rewards their reports are mostly negative. These criminal organizations are so short in action and so much about cheap talk. These unelected bureaucrats are accountable to anybody and these days they are practically the new colonial powers in most the third world and especially the failing or failed states of Africa. These organizations are the friends of ruthless dictators, strongmen and warlords. These shoddy enterprises are part of the problem not the solution. The so-called United Nation’s agencies are the worst of the pact. Everything they do is done in secret. There is no transparency or accountability at all. . they so many different fancy names, UNESCO,UNICEF, WHO, ILO, the so-called World Bank, the IMF, the African Development Bank and others. These organizations are the financial wing of the colonial powers and at worst an international mafia organizations made for the exploitation, extortion, hegemony and control. 

New Schools

Abarso Institute of Technology, Amoud Medical School Hospital, Odwene high school, Burao Electronic school, Gabta high school, Dilla high school. Boon high school, Adams University has opened a new faculty in Hargeisa and Poineer University. The new schools opened in Somaliland for the last are not all written here. What I missed will appear in my next report. Currently there are eight universities in Somaliland.

As soon as Amoud University was opened some citizens in Hargeisa started thinking of the foundation of Hargisa University in less than a year, Hargeisa University was also opened. Hargeisa university was followed by Berbera marine college and the rest is history. Burao university followed, Eiregavo and Las Anod their universities, Hargeisa currently may have about five universities and several technical and vocational colleges. Borama currently had two universities and several technical and vocational colleges. This mad dash to education is an unprecedented phenomenon and the growth of education in Somaliland for the last ten years is unprecedented and unparalleled in any where in the world. though there is still a long way to go the health sector is another sector where significant development has taken place. Borama and Hargeisa are the leading cities in this category. 

A limited Masterate program was started to be offered in Hargeisa. Dilla, Zeila and another Gabiley post-secondary education are on the drawing boards. the major established Somaliland universities are also discussing the start of PhD program in the coming few years and a joint research center. I believe we can do anything we work hard for and put our efforts and minds together. 

let Amoud miracle be transferred to building our roads, ports and other vital infra-structure crucial to our development. The time for that miracle and spirit to expand to another sectors of our society.The third phase on the leap forward has already started both inside and outside the country.  

The most interesting news in the month of January, 2010 regarding Somaliland education was the completion of Amoud University medical School Hospital. I am commending the selfless citizens who made this historical milestone possible.

Suleiman Egeh: Freelance writer and a senior science instructor
 

Resource:

1. Library of Congress
2. Dr. Subh-Al-Ahsa’s book

Filed Under: Report