First Graduation in Somalia in 30 Years

In Sahara Reporters last week’s education news, Professor Elias Bogoro has stated that Nigerian public universities are suffering because of private universities’ funding. The executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund has said that 94% of Nigerian students enrol in public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in Nigeria and that the country’s polytechnics and private universities charge fees in dollars rather than naira and thus they should not benefit from the federal government’s support funds. “A number of private tertiary institutions are charging fees in dollars, not in naira, which is definitely much weaker. Therefore, the funds should go to the public institutions,” he said.

University World News reports that the first graduation in over 30 years has been held at the The Somali National University (SNU). In the country that was wrecked by the civil war, this represents an important step forward towards peace and progress. Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, who is a graduate of the same university, said that this event represents a transformation of the country’s society and economy. He also added: “Our country has been through various stages. We now have students who have graduated from this university of a Somali nation. It is an indication that if we all work together as a people, we can reach great heights.“

New Zimbabwe reports that hundreds of students in Zimbabwe were forced to attend the lectures through window due to a lack of adequate infrastructure. Representatives of two student’s unions, the Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU) and the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), told the Parliament that most of institutions are prioritising other things ahead of infrastructure development. Dyson Nyatsanga, ZICOSU secretary for education, said:

“Students have become peeping toms, attending lessons outside lecture rooms because they cannot fit in one room.”