14 November 2013**(Mareeg.com-Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon and Cabinet were today briefed
government plans to rebuild and reopen Somali National University at the weekly
Cabinet meeting. The plans were unanimously supported by the Cabinet.
Somali National University was established in 1974, consisting of 13 faculties, 700
staff and educating over 15,000 students. The physical structure of the National
University campus has been heavily damaged, it is estimated it will cost $3.6m to
refurbish the university.
“Education must be at the heart of every civilised country’s agenda and
Somalia is no different. Through education we fight poverty, illiteracy and
ignorance and we promote social development,” the Prime Minister said.
“Now that peace is returning to Somalia, we urgently need to re-establish our
education system, which has been devastated by two decades of fighting. The
Ministry for Human Development and Public Services has already launched the
ambitious Go 2 School campaign, which will see $117 million invested over three
years, with the aim of getting one million more children into schools.
“We must now focus on reviving our state higher education system. Reopening
Somali National University will allow our brightest and most talented pupils to once
again aspire to attend university in Somalia.
“A generation has already lost its education through war. Without education we
will not build a new Somalia. ”
The Cabinet also discussed and welcomed the United Nations Security Council backing
for the package of non-lethal support to be provided to the SNA through a UN trust
fund and the increase in number of AMISOM personnel.
“This increased support and manpower will help to bring about a final end to
the fighting, allowing Somalia to get on with reconstructing our country and
rebuilding our economy,” said His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah
Shirdon.
**ENDS**
