Reprinted copy: History of Somaliland Education

Reprinted Copy: Hostory of Somaliland Education Part 1

We have reprinted the following article due to numerous requests we got from our readers.

The world will belong to those who do the right things today” Al-Haji Malik Shabazz(Malcolm X). 
 
“The road to education is long and bitter, but for those who take the time to do it, the fruits are sweet” Nelson Madella.
History of Education in “Awdal” (Adel), and Somaliland.
Pre-colonial education

Ibna-Batuta and many other ancient travelers to the land of “Adel empire” from the eleven century until the advent of the European colonization in the 19th century, have very interesting stories regarding the area between , Adari (Harrar) and Zayla (Awdal). Through out the last millennium, The area attracted the attention of the Greeks, Othoman Turks, Berbers, Arabs and Europeans. Cosmopolitan Zayla(Awdal) and “Adari” were once the centers of trade, education, culture, Folklore, religion and music. Students from those cities were used to be sent to Al-Azhar University in Egypt. From anecdotal stories passed from generation to generation, as recently as the early to the middle part of the twenty century, students and scholars of religion used to go to Harrar for scholarship and religious studies. It is also a fact that, religious scholars located in the twin cities of “Zayla” and “Harrar”, were spreading Islam thorough the Horn of Africa for over a thousand years. Zayla was also the door through which Islam entered the Horn of Africa.
“Masaalik-Al-Absaar”, a book written by an Egyptian author, called “Zayla” the city of lights, which has many mosques and schools, where all kinds of subjects were taught. He described “Zayla” as a place where one can acquire any kind of knowledge that may be taught in that period of time. The book indicated the people of “Zayla” were 100% Muslim, who gather in large numbers in the Mosques of the city. Those Mosques could be compared to the public libraries that can be found in big cities of our modern times. Sometimes people in other parts of the Muslim world used to call Zayla “Diraa-Sal-Al-Islaam.
Another great pillar of the precolonial education was Sheik Aw Barkhadleh, the architect of the “Alif-La-Kor-Dhabay-Alif-La-Hos-Dabay-Alif-laa-Goday” style of phonetics. Sheik Aw Barkhadleh completely revolutionized the way Arab phonetics is thought. His translation of Arabic phonetics into Somali phonetics simplified the learning of the holy Koran, Islamic religion and Arabic language. His radical efforts helped spread Islam in the Horn of Africa.
One time, Harrar was the 4th most holiest Muslim city in the Islamic world, just after Mecca Al-Muka-Rama, Al-Madiina-Ta-Almun-Awara, and Al-Qudas Al-Sharif (Jerusalem). People used to flock from all over the Horn of Africa and beyond to those cities for scholarship, enlightenment, spiritual and religious enrichment. The twin cities of “Zayla” and “Harrar” have a huge impact on ” modern Awdal” in particular and Somaliland in general, in terms of education, culture, civic-mindedness, cuisine and religion. Awdal’s pioneering spirit and its relative edge in education despite 40 years of neglect, is not something out of the blue and new, or started by one individual or a group of individuals. Awdal education has a very long history, spanning for nearly one thousand years.
It is worth mentioning though, that there were some educational movements, that rekindled or sparked if you will, from time to time; the ancient spirit of innovation, adventurism, love for education and enlightenment inherent in the area for a very long time. One of those movements originally started in French Somaliland in the thirties, and overtime spilled into “Awdal” and Somaliland.
One of the pioneers of the “1930′s” educational movement in Somaliland was sheik Abdirahman Sheik Nuur, who started the first elementary school in Borama in “1932″ . Sheik Abdirahman Sheik Nuur who I have cited many times in my writings, was the author of a well written book, published in “1992″ by the name of “Il-Bah-Nimadii-Adel-Iyo-Sooyaalkii-Soomaa-lida”. In 1959, the first elementary school in Tug-Wajaale was started with the initiative of Sheik Omar Sheik Musa Liban. Sheik Omar Sheik Musa started the school by the traditional Awdalian style of fund raising, in which he collected about 40 oxen from the area.
Another movement was started in Somaliland in the mid fifties by the “Samaroon Civil Servants Association” (SCSA). These were mostly junior and senior British colonial government officials. They founded “SCSA” an Educational Association or a Trust Fund if you will, whose main objective was to help poor students pay their school fee. Honorable, Adan Isaak Ahmed was one of the preeminent founders of that Association. Over the years “SCSA” has helped numerous students accomplish their dreams of education.

Colonial and post-colonial education:

Mr. Mahmoud Ahmed Ali, Mr.Yusuf Haji Aden, Aden Isaak Ahmed, Haji Jama Muhumed,
Yusuf Ismail Samater (Gandhi), Yusuf Adan Bokah and others were instrumental in both the limited colonial and the post colonial education in Somaliland. During colonial times, the whole country has two secondary schools, one technical institute, one Teachers Training Center (T.T.C.), and one Clerical Training Center (C.T.C). These two latter institutions were originally combined into one institution based in Amoud in the forties, by the name of Vocational Training Center (V.T.C.)
You can not talk about modern education in Somaliland, and ignore the role of Haji Jama Muhumed, Hagi Dahir Aw Elmi, Rableh Goud, Haji Olhaye, Haji Ibrahim Nuur, Ali Warsame Biriko, Honorable Adan Isaak Ahmed, Sheik Abdirahman Sheik Ibrahim Brawi, Sheik Fadumo , Sheik Hassan Nuriye, Shiek Abdirahman Sh. Nuur and others. Haji Jama Muhumed a local legend laid the first stone for the foundation of Amoud Secondary School, along with a British colonial officer Mr. C.R.V.Bell in “1952″. In the post colonial era, Somaliland schools have been undergone a tremendous exponential growth.
Most of the progress made by Somaliland schools during those infamous years was community based. By “199″1, when the military dictatorship was toppled, there was at least one high school in every region of the country. Hargeisa has three secondary schools and one technical institute, Borama has three secondary schools including an agricultural secondary school, Burao has one secondary school, and one technical institute. Each of the following towns ( Gabiley, Zayla, Airegavo, Las-Annod, and Qulijeed) has one secondary school.

A profile of a preeminent religious scholar who played a major rule in Awdal education: (Sheik Omar Goth)
Sheik Omar Goth was born in Dilla region in “1918″. He accomplished his early education in Harrar, Zayla, Sudan, and Yemen. In the mid-fifties, he has successfully completed his long scholarship in the prestigious Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Following his graduation from Al-Azhar University, he came back to the motherland and through out his long and distinguished career, he was based in “Awdal”.
Talking about the history of education in the great state of “Awdal”, one can not afford to overlook the preeminent religious scholar, educator, community leader, an outspoken civil rights agitator and a courageous advocate. In “1959″, Sheik Omar Goth was instrumental in the first co-education class in the then Somaliland Protectorate, which became operational in Dilla elementary school, against the objections of some local community members and even the enlightened educational officer of the day.
Sheik Ali Jowhar Secondary school came into existence following an inspirational speech, Sheik Omar delivered in Borama grand mosque, that moved the worshipers into a frenzy. After that day, he started an aggressive fund raising drive into the country, where he collected more than 300 hundred heads of sheep. When the construction of the school was completed, the city elders proposed to name the school after him. He respectfully declined the offer, and in turn proposed the school to be named after his teacher, the great religious scholar of all times, Sheik Ali Jowhar. That was a short glimpse of how Sheik Ali Jowhar Secondary School came into being. The construction of the school was completely a community project. The school was opened in “1973″.
He was behind the creation of the first cooperative farms in the region, which is still functional as I speak. Sheik Omar also vehemently defended the writing of the Somali language in Latin script, a very controversial project at the time. Sheik Omar’s accomplishments in terms of education, civil rights, justice, teaching, counseling and conflict resolution are infinite and endless, but I am just trying here to put a short synopsis of the long career of this selfless leader into prospective.
She Omar may Allah bless his soul was a courageous visionary, a respected educator, a selfless community leader, an advocate, a loud voice for the voiceless, and a valuable peace maker. The British colonial administration put him in jail several times, due to his fervent pro-independence sentiments. Sheik Omar may Allah bless his soul was passed in July, 1988. Sheik Omar Goth was survived by a wife, seven sons and a daughter.
He was an open-minded, progressive religious scholar and a revolutionary. He always stands on the side of what is right, and never shrinks from standing by controversial issues if he thinks they are right. Sheik Omar successfully overcame numerous road blocks and obstacles, put forth in front of Awdal education by some religious fanatics or zealots of the time, who were preaching that modern education is tantamount to Christianization.
In the 1940′s again he was instrumental in averting an armed clash between two Gadaboursi sub clans. His extensive knowledge in Islamic jurisprudence, Koranic exegesis, prophet’s traditions, Arabic grammar, literature and shear wisdom help him resolve disputes between communities, rally communities for good causes, speak out against both the British colonial administration and the successive corrupt governments that ruled the area. Sheik Omar was always on the side of fairness, justice and what is right no matter what.
Post conflict education
History will be very kind to the pioneers of the first post conflict higher education in Somaliland, and the Somali-speaking world for that matter. They were the following: Professor Suleiman Ahmed Guleid, Professor Aboker Sh. Abdi, Professor Farah Shuun Abrain, Mr. Abiib Ilburo, professor Abdillahi Hashi Abiib, and many others. This afore-mentioned list is neither the most accurate nor a list that encompasses all the selfless individuals and communities, who made this unprecedented endeavor to be realized. The permutations and commutations of this list will be subject to constant change and adjustment. This selfless pioneers are the Booker T. Washington’s, Mary McLeod Bethune’s, sheik Aw Barkhadleh’s of our time. This men and their supporters will go down in the hall of fame of education in our country.
The coming generations can not escape mentioning their names when talking about higher education in our neck of the woods. Those in the diaspora need to keep the good work they have already done in the establishment of this great institution. Amoud University project is nothing but a revolutionary enterprise not less important than the French revolution, the Renaissance, and the reformation. This massive grassroots efforts is one of the most successful projects, conducted since the foundation of the post conflict modern Somaliland. This bold project became one of the major engines that moved Somaliand forward. This project immediately has triggered a movement for higher education in Hargeisa. Then a came a chain reaction similar to a nuclear chain reaction, of a radio active isotope unleashed with an enormous power. Now you can see many communities devastated by clan wars talking about building institutions of higher education.
Amoud University completely changed the paradigm of public discourse. This marked a historical change of epoch proportions.It is an understatement to say that it changed the whole political, social and educational dynamics of the whole landscape. It changed the direction of the nation. In Somaliland, at the present; there are three potentially major institutions of learning in Amoud, Hargeisa, and Burao. In Mogadishu and Bossaso there are also two other Institutions of higher learning.
Certainly the impact of the local grassroots higher education movement can not be ignored either. The initial movement started in the Diaspora, then overtime caught fire and reached Awdal, Somaliland, Djibouti and beyond. The names of the selfless pioneers of this massive revolutionary movement, will go down a golden page in history. They already left an indelible mark in our history. They will be remembers for perhaps thousands of years to come. These Honorable men and women may be memorialized and remembered like Imam Ahmed Gurrey, Haji Diide, Jama Saylici, Farah Omar, Adan Isaac, Shiek Ibrahim Zaylici, Sheik Ali Jowhar, Sheik Ibrahim Hujaleh, Sheik Hussein Baliyaal, Barkad As, and Ahmed Haji Bahdoon for a long time to come.
It also worth remembering the alma mater of the great Amoud Secondary School, have significantly contributed to the founding and the sustainability of AU. Special thanks to both Somalilanders and non Somalilanders who generously contributed to the foundation of this great institution of higher learning, that completely shifted the direction of Somaliland. Amoud University project epitomizes a massive structural change of our society. It also marked a huge non conventional demobilization of the armed young men who were roaming around our communities. It also makes hope for thousands of young people, who used to travel thousands of miles, to get access to higher education during the reign of the former despotic and genocidal regime. One of the uniqueness of Amoud University is not the notion, that it provides education for the upcoming generations only, it is also providing free bus service to the University students, this is an unprecedented endeavor anywhere in the world.
Formation of Amoud University
The end of the civil strife and the clan supremacist wars of the mid-eighties and early nineties of the last century, triggered a massive higher education movement, originally started by a few people in the diaspora, and joined by the local communities of Awdal/Gabiley and else where. One of the major driving force that triggered that movement was the idleness of young people, either graduated from high schools or dropped out due to the clan supremacist wars of the late eighties. Visionaries both in the Diaspora and the motherland communities, were alarmed by the presence of a large number of idle youth among them, in a time of a very fragile peace, with a very few institutions of law enforcement and the judiciary in place. This God sent institution-Amoud University indirectly became the demobilization vehicle of armed young people, who would have otherwise joined the tribal militias who wrecked havoc in many other parts of former Somalia. The early establishment of an institution of higher learning may be a great factor to the deep-rooted peace and stability in Somaliland.
Anyway, to make a long story short, Amoud University marked a historical milestone in post civil strife Somaliland. It became the first institution of higher learning established in the dark times of turmoil, chaos and warlordism. Several other institutions of higher learning followed suit in different parts of Somaliand and other parts of the Somali-speaking world. Currently there about seven functioning universities in Somaliland. They are as follows:

1. Amoud Unversity
2. EELO University in Borama
2. Hargeisa University
3. Burao University
4. Berbera marine College
5. Nugal University
6. Adams University
7. Sanaag University

In addition to that there several other colleges/universities in Hargeisa. There are also some other colleges, technical and professional colleges I did not mention here. My list is in no way or shape a complete list.
My recent visit to Borama and Amoud University
It is an understatement to say my 2005 to Amoud University was an emotional one. To walk you through my relationship and attachment to the Amoud Valley, I have graduated from the old Amoud Secondary School. When I graduated from the college of education in Mogadishu, I got the opportunity to briefly teach in Amoud Secondary School. The University president, Professor Suleiman Ahmed Guleid toured me around the University campus. I have noticed that the old student dormitories were changed into classes, offices and laboratories. The old buildings of the former Amoud Secondary school have been reconstructed, expanded and renovated. Currently about 450 are enrolled in AU. University students come from all regions of Somaliland.

Note to the Diaspora
Get involved in the development of your country. Don’t think others will do things you would like to see or dream of to be done. “Be the change you want to become” Mahatma Gandhi. Everything you see in this world is started by one or few persons. The massive Ford Foundation, the world-wide MacDonald Restaurants, Boeing and other giant institutions were started by one or few dedicated and energetic individuals. The University of Virginia was single-handedly started by Thomas Jefferson. The prestigious African-American Tuskegee University in Alabama was founded by the great African American educator, civil rights leader and statesman Mr. Booker T. Washington. Mary McLeod Bethune an African American civil rights agitator and leader founded a girls’ college in Florida. Preparation are underway to open several more colleges in Awdal and Salel in the coming years. 

Suleiman Ige: Freelance Writer
References
Masalik-Al-Ab-Saar, Subhul Ahsha (Egyptian author).
Il-Bah-Nimadii-Adel-iyo Sooyaalkii Somaalida, Sheik Abdirahman Sheik Nuur
Interview with some of the living members of the colonial and post-colonial education in my recent visit to Awdal, including Haji Dahir Aw Elmi, and Hajji Jama Muhumed.
Suleiman Egeh: Msc. Biology. Msc. Science Education- freelance

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