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Does the education system in Somalia prepare young people for the labor market?

Young people are entering the labor market with more years in education and more qualifications than ever before but are finding it incredibly difficult to secure the jobs they want.

Somalia is one of the countries where most of its population is youth. Graduate Unemployment in Somalia has become one of the most serious socio-economic problems confronting the country which could also form basis of the violent crimes and the never-ending social difficulties.

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In this regard, it is exciting to note that many young people in Somalia are in learning than ever before. This would mean that, compared to previous generations, the young people entering Somali’s labour force today have had more schooling.

However, the current education system in Somalia leaves youth disillusioned, tired of learning, and without an interest in or the motivation for further education. They see no value in the skills they are receiving through formal education as they do not seem to match market demand. In formal education, learning is no longer about gaining more skills or knowledge, but about passing examinations and receiving certificates. Due to this, it is likely to find graduates from school or universities with high grades but who lack the personal attributes needed in the labor market.

                    Photo Credit: Shout-Africa

The education system has failed to adequately promote good-quality, relevant education or encourage students towards productive sectors such as agriculture, livestock, and fishing. Also, the education system in Somalia needs to address issues such as the lack of an entrepreneurship mindset and the youth’s technical and business skills weaknesses. Lack of access to markets and information and lack of access to finance for the young are some of the challenges that the government needs to address. There are weaknesses at the policy and regulatory level for promoting youth-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs), resulting in a low employment level in the existing private sector.

So, Somalia needs a new education system to prepare young people for the job market and to become changemakers. Addressing this social challenge certainly requires a multifaceted approach. But obtain to the root of the problem requires special attention to providing better quality education and skills to make young people more productive.

Improving education system in Somalia means making it relevant for the realities and requirements of the 21st century. In the context of the ongoing technological revolution, transforming education requires preparing young people with the requisite skills for the labor market.

It is very important to make sure that education can contribute to peacebuilding and state building processes in Somalia. Since the rise in violent crime and the never-ending social difficulties 


http://jedsnet.com/journals/jeds/Vol_9_No_3_September_2021/2.pdf

https://bit.ly/32qIriR

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