By Goth Mohamed Goth
HARGEISA, Somaliland — The 2025/2026 national school certificate examinations officially commenced across Somaliland this morning, with a total of 42,293 students sitting for the exams in various regions and districts throughout the country.
The examinations were formally inaugurated by the President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Cirro), in a ceremony marking the start of this crucial academic assessment period.
Student Breakdown
The candidate cohort is divided across two educational levels:
· 26,148 students from primary and middle schools (lower and intermediate levels)
· 16,145 students from secondary schools (upper level/high schools)
A Nationwide Effort
The examinations are being conducted simultaneously across all administrative regions of Somaliland, with testing centers established in major cities and remote districts alike. This coordinated effort involves thousands of teachers, supervisors, and education officials working to ensure the smooth administration of the exams.
President Cirro, in his address at the opening ceremony, emphasized the importance of education in shaping the nation’s future and urged students to approach their exams with confidence and integrity. He also commended the Ministry of Education for its preparations and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the educational sector.
Security measures have been put in place at examination centers to prevent malpractice, and logistical arrangements have been made to ensure that students in even the most remote areas can participate without disruption.
The examinations will continue over the coming days, covering a comprehensive range of subjects, with results expected to be released in the weeks following the conclusion of the testing period.
This annual examination cycle serves as a critical milestone for students transitioning between educational levels and remains a cornerstone of Somaliland’s education system, which continues to develop despite the challenges facing the self-declared republic.
