Sunday 18,May 2025 {HMC} The SSC-Khaatumo regional government announced that the federal government of Somalia has informed them that there will be no financial support for administering the 2024/2025 National Secondary School Examinations in the region.
Farduus Qaran Bila, the Director General of Education for SSC-Khaatumo, said on Saturday that due to the funding shortfall, the ministry has imposed a \$10 fee per student to cover the costs of conducting the exams.
“This year, we were informed that there would be no funding for the certificate exam, so it was decided that each student would pay a \$10 fee, which is a legal matter that came out of the ministry,” said Farduus.
She also apologized for an earlier letter that erroneously stated students would be charged \$20, clarifying that it was a mistake and not an official policy.
The SSC-Khaatumo administration had its first federal-backed exam administration in 2023, with the Somali federal government covering all costs. The sudden withdrawal of federal funding raises concerns about whether students in other regions, including Mogadishu, will face similar charges this year.
The Somali government has previously abolished examination fees nationwide. However, it remains unclear whether this policy change applies only to SSC-Khaatumo or nationwide amid ongoing financial and political challenges.
The funding issue comes after the Federal Government of Somalia formally recognized SSC-Khaatumo as part of its federal structure — a development hailed by local leaders but now shadowed by financial uncertainty.
