Access to quality education in most parts of Somalia is hindered due to lack of adequate resources such as proper infrastructure, human personnel and books. NAPAD in partnership with Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) distributed a total of 850 textbooks to 8 Schools in Dollow and Belet Hawa, Districts with the least district level school developments in Somalia.
Through the project, ‘Education for Peace and Sustainable Development’ launched in January 2019, over 6,000 students benefited from the distribution of school text books in the two Districts located in Gedo region. Belet Hawa has a high population of schools in the town while Dollow has low literacy levels especially in the villages.
In Dollow District, five schools; Surgadud, Dusey, Qurdubey, Busle, and Gondobow Primary Schools were reached while in Belet Hawa District Dawa, Oda, and Al-Qalam Primary Schools were reached in the distribution. In the selected schools, only teachers and very few students could afford to buy textbooks.
The distribution of Maths, English, Sciences, Arabic, tarbiyaha islamiyaha (religious studies), Somali language, Cilmiga Bulshada (social studies) books reached 20 teachers and 1120 students in Belet Hawa while in Dollow, a total of 20 teachers and 920 students were reached.
Somalia has the world’s lowest enrollment rate for primary-school-age children with only 30 per cent of primary school students enrolled according to the UN. NAPAD has been working with NCA in the education front since 2017 to bring equitable access to quality Primary and Secondary education. Through the 2019 project, a total of $ 81,360 in incentives was given to 84 school teachers and $ 31600 given to 20 school head teachers’ between January and November as means to support and promote education.
NAPAD addresses barriers to education for children who are at risk of exploitation, child marriage, and low income households. By working with its partners, communities and local governments, NAPAD seeks to improve the quality of education through construction and equipping of learning centers, human resource for the institutions, food aid, hygiene and sanitation in schools.