Literacy in Somalia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Somalia is a nation on the Horn of Africa with a population of approximately 18 million people.[1] As of 2022,[update] the country has an adult literacy rate[a] of about 41%.[2][3] There is a significant gender disparity in literacy rate, with 54% of men and only 22% of women being literate.[4][5] According to USAID, the youth literacy rate[b] is approximately 70%.[6] The official languages of Somalia are Somali and Arabic, with English and Italian used as well.[6]
The Siad Barre government initiated large-scale public works programs in 1972, and successfully implemented an urban and rural literacy campaign, thus significantly increasing the literacy rate. By the end of the program, literacy rate in Somalia was reported to be at 80% due to the massive success of this campaign.[7] In 1975 the Somali ministry of education was awarded a UNESCO prize [8]
Former US ambassador to Somalia praised Somali literacy efforts:
''UNESCO reportedly examined this and found that when Somalis closed down the schools for two years and sent everybody to the field with chalk and blackboards and radio receivers, that they did, in a period of five years, go from a 12-16% literacy rate to an 86% literacy rate. The Somalis that I know, having been back four times since retirement, and having the privilege of traveling anywhere in the country, would say it certainly is well over 50%. Exactly how high it is, I have no way of judging. But I think it is one of the most remarkable achievements of any country in Africa.''[9]
