The Ministry of Education Development of the Republic of Somaliland has announced that it is beginning vocational training for 1032 students and that the Ministry of Education and Science will conduct training across the regions of Awdal, Marodijeh, Sahil, and Togdheer.
Mr. Abdiasis Egeh Riyale, the Director of Vocational Training who made the announcement, the vocational training will include plumbing, electricity, mechanical, welding, metal and woodworking, and new skills such as gypsum installation and interior decoration, hospitality, and cosmetology. Mr. Riyale stated the Ministry added the additional training modules following market research that showed the need for skilled workers in these fields.
Although official statistics on the Somaliland workforce and what new skills are required are not readily available for independent analysis, many high-paying fields, such as the installation of gypsum or drywall for decoration and HVAC installation, are currently denominated by foreign workers.
Mr. Riyale, the Director of Vocational Training at the Ministry of Education and Science, stated a strong desire and commitment to learn is one of the basic requirements to apply for one of the 1032 slots available for this training.
In addition, it is unclear if the Ministry of Education and Science is coordinating with public and private higher education institutions to ensure the curriculum keeps up with market needs and prioritizes workforce-ready graduates to combat rampant unemployment, especially among educated youth.
It has been nearly three years since the Minister of Telecommunication and Technology, Dr. Abdiweli, announced in a cabinet-level extra-ordinary session a plan to include information technology into the national curriculum. So far, this plan has not materialized and technology is not part of the national curriculum.