On how the somali university revolution began

[Midas]

This is interview that ahmed baidyow gave . And from minute 1:00:00 to 1:05:00 he explains hiw when he and several other people started mogadihsu university they had a dilemma of how to restart education back in the country again. Then they realized it rhy started a university that it would awaken the competing nature in somalis and other people would copy them . And he was right everybody has opened a university. This is exactly my through process on how Somalia will develop. You see this same phenomenon of somalia copying each other with the explosion of book fairs all over the country in the last 10 years
@Idilinaa

 

[Aseer]

I got a theory that tribalism is a double-edged sword, It may be destructive but if utilised correctly it can breed competition and competition leads to development, This is a perfect example of what I have been thinking about lately OP.

 

[Midas]

I got a theory that tribalism is a double-edged sword, It may be destructive but if utilised correctly it can breed competition and competition leads to development, This is a perfect example of what I have been thinking about lately OP.

I think so too. If tribalism is wielded by smart politicians we can use it to encourage local development. I even read an article talking about how somalis are using WhatsApp group to organize themselves in their tuulos and Deegans to raise money for local projects and other stuff.

There are of course negative side effects but it's a good sign that this trend of self organizing development is happening self directed. As long as it's guided it can do a lot. For instance we could have the fed gov sponsor gobols and smaller clan groups to increase centralized governance since these gobols and smaller clans will become reliant on the fed govt.

 

[Idilinaa]

What he is talking about is not Tribalism. but rather private sector competition, decentralized economic activity, and community-driven development.

Profit & opportunity driven, Not clan loyalty. When a Somali sees another Somali succeed in business, they replicate it to gain wealth and market share, not because of clan identity.

So the rise of multiple universities, is competition-driven. It's no different from what you said about book fairs, but also what i have said about electricity companies, banking and telecom firms all over Somalia , again this is was not clan-driven,

The school building/universities operate much like other sectors. For example the telecom, banking, and electricity sectors in Somalia are the most competitive in Africa.

Multiple providers compete, creating cheaper, better-quality services for the public. This is just smart business.

You can see this in how reliable the power sector in Somalia is in delivering electricity compared to other African countries who experience frequent outages and inefficiencies.

WhatsApp groups raising money for local projects is self-organization, also not tribalism.
This is similar to how diasporas send remittances to their home regions to develop them.

It’s a decentralized economic model. Decentralized development allows different regions to grow, making Somalia less dependent on a central government.

Somalia’s success isn’t driven by tribalism, it’s driven by entrepreneurship, competition, and adaptability.

The term tribalism implies rigid, exclusive group identity and favoritism, which isn’t how Somalis operate. Somalis don’t have "tribes" in the traditional sense, but rather clan-based networks, which can serve as economic and social organizing structures. They are not built on exclusion they are built on strengthening ties and relationships between families and communities across the country.

 

[Idilinaa]

Then they realized it rhy started a university that it would awaken the competing nature in somalis and other people would copy them . And he was right everybody has opened a university. This is exactly my through process on how Somalia will develop. You see this same phenomenon of somalia copying each other with the explosion of book fairs all over the country in the last 10 years

To answer your point @Midas your absolutely right, thats exactly what drives Somalia development today and growth.

How this Mentality is Driving Somalia’s Development

Higher Education Growth:

Once Mogadishu University proved successful, others copied, leading to an education boom.

Entrepreneurial Expansion:

One Somali businessman succeeds, others follow, creating an entire sector (e.g., logistics, airlines, hotels).

Infrastructure Development

Private investment in roads, energy, and real estate is increasing as others see the potential.

This is exactly how free market economies develop, by learning from successful models and expanding

Somalia is Functioning Like a Decentralized Free Market Economy, NOT a Tribal Society

But you are also right about something else, there are down sides to this 100% private sector led decentralized development pattern and that we can maximize, guide it and take advantage of it if we had more centralized planning approach and a more involved public sector.

I'll come to that later in another thread that i promised @Aseer . So we can see both upsides and downsides of this growth and development pattern.

The most obvious down side to the Somali educational system, is the lack of public education since all are private. We should have both options. We should also have national standard curriculum.

 

[gasara]

SIMAD Uni helped me ace one of my classes last summer. Imagine 10 years from now how good Somali higher education can become. I'm optimistic about it.

 

[Idilinaa]

SIMAD Uni helped me ace one of my classes last summer. Imagine 10 years from now how good Somali higher education can become. I'm optimistic about it.

Jammuriyah University recently became accredited by a major institution . It's a great step forward since the GMC apparently accredits only a limited number of universities

Just like how Simad became Nr.1 in the Horn of Africa, it goes to show that private universities are competing to provide the best quality education, to outdo their competitors.That's how things are developing.

 

[Idilinaa]

Kinda outdated since this is a study from 2013 and we are in 2025, but it highlights the rapid growth and proliferation of higher educational institutions in Somalia.

It's interesting how newer universities have now out-competed the older ones in quality , when they were top 3 a decade ago.

Today 30 universities are operational Mogadishu alone.

It is showing how Somalis take initiative to build their own institutions rather than waiting for international aid or government interventions.

 

[Zak12]

@Midas @Idilinaa I found these images about Somali's schools. Are they true?

 

[Midas]

@Midas @Idilinaa I found these images about Somali's schools. Are they true?

View attachment 358075

View attachment 358076

I'm not sure but It definitely sounds believable.

If there is only 3 million + kids out of school that's honestly better than I thought considering like 60% of the pouplation is under 18.

 

[Idilinaa]

@Midas @Idilinaa I found these images about Somali's schools. Are they true?

View attachment 358075

View attachment 358076

Not as a whole. If you read this it shows how many are kept out of education due political instability(alshabab) and there is large increase in number of students and exam participants happening each year.

If you compare this to Ethiopia's educational system where they had a passing rate of 5.4% out of 674,823 Ethiopian grade 12th students

Btw 2016 is 2024 , Ethiopian calendar date.

It shows you that Somalia's educational system is more inclusive and accessible than Ethiopia's

The problems comes from that there is a large Internally displaced population (IDPS) in Somalia that can hardly afford schooling and had to go to makeshift poorly funded schools, large parts in Alshabab controlled areas that are kept out of education or exams or rocked by instability and you have to pay to attend school since they are all privatized which creates long term sustainability issues or barriers for many.

If i would have to put into fewer words.

Somalia’s Education System is Expanding Despite Challenges​

-Enrollment in schools has increased over the years.

- Higher education participation is rising despite instability.

- The private education model ensures access but has sustainability concerns.

Education Barriers Are Tied to Broader Socio-Political Issues​

-Al-Shabaab & Conflict: Many children in Al-Shabaab-controlled areas are denied education.

- Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): Many IDPs struggle to access formal schooling.

- Economic Hardships: School fees make education inaccessible for many families.

- Gender Disparities: Girls face more barriers due to social norms and safety concerns.