Background Although several gains have been achieved within the education sector in recent years, human development indicators relating to education in Somalia rank among the lowest in the world. Somalia’s education sector is diverse, ranging from programs that address issues of early childhood learning to adult literacy. Focus has been on primary education through formal and alternative approaches, secondary schooling and vocational training for young persons.

Participants, including the TFG Ministers for Education, Water & Mineral Resources, Livestock, and Agriculture, pose for a group photo at the recently held Education SWAp Conference, held on 18th July 2007 at the Hotel Lamada.

Recent advances within the sector include: the development of lower primary and secondary school curricula, modest increases in enrollment and promotion rates, community involvement in the establishment of schools in rural areas, large scale in-service teacher training programmes, growing numbers of primary and secondary schools operating, establishment of tertiary institutions, significant contributions by the diaspora and an improved capacity of education authorities at central and regional level in some areas of Somalia.