Who goes to school? School enrollment patterns in Somalia

Somalia gained its independence in 1960; however, civil conflict broke out in 1991. The outbreak of civil conflict was the final blow for already collapsed education in Somalia. The civil conflict completely destroyed the remaining educational structure. Despite the protracted nature of the conflict Somalia has slowly been pushed Somalia out of the active international agenda. This paper aims to highlight the state of education in Somalia. The study examines 5969 households and presents the patterns of educational enrollment and attendance in Somalia, and identifies the major challenges of expanding education access in Somalia.

Research highlights▶ School enrollment and attendance in Somalia has increased but continues to be the lowest in the world. About 37% of children in Somalia reported they have never been to school. ▶ Koranic schools account for close to 27% of children who reported they attended school. ▶ Girls, nomads, and children in rural areas continue to face significant obstacles to schooling.