Publication: Survey of ICT and Education in Africa : Somalia Country Report
Date
2007-06
ISSN
Published
2007-06
Author(s)
Hare, Harry
Abstract
This short country report, a result of
larger Information for Development Program (infoDev) -
supported survey of the Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT) in education in Africa, provides a
general overview of current activities and issues related to
ICT use in education in the country. Somalia gained its
independence in 1960, and 10 years later the country was
plagued by a civil war that lasted for 21 years. By 1991,
this war had ceased, but the education system had
disintegrated beyond repair. Sporadic fighting among
warlords guarding territorial interest continued until 2004
when the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was installed
to normalize the administration and bring back law and
order. The country is still facing political challenges. In
June 2006, a loose coalition of clerics, business leaders,
and Islamic court militias, known as the Supreme Council of
Islamic Courts (SCIC), defeated powerful Mogadishu warlords
and took control of the capital. The courts continued to
expand, spreading their influence throughout much of
southern Somalia and threatening to overthrow the TFG. The
education sector is greatly affected by this political
instability which has resulted in the displacement of
people, destruction of infrastructure and schools, and
looting of equipment and books. As much as things are slowly
returning to normal, thanks to the efforts of United Nations
(UN) bodies, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), and
local communities, education system revival and reforms are
just but beginning. And as much as ICT is acknowledged as a
possible tool in the reform agenda and a possible catalyst
to bring about better quality and more accessible education
in Somalia, it does not feature in the current plans of most
of the organization working in Somalia or the ministry in charge.
Citation
“Hare, Harry. 2007. Survey of ICT and Education in Africa : Somalia Country Report. InfoDev ICT and Education Series. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/a162ab30-60a8-5c59-9cbc-f8c28509a5cd License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”