We, the signers of this petition, are deeply concerned about the recent results of the Somali National Secondary School Examinations and are calling for an Immediate & Independent Review.

 A close analysis of the exam results has raised numerous red flags, and we believe there has been a mismanagement in the exam.The exam results show that a total of 33,727 students have taken the examinations and 8,550 of them have failed. The failure rate of 25% of students in the National Exams (of which, 92% are from Mogadishu!) demonstrates a failure of ministry education in implementing fair and consistent examinations protocols. 

Students in Mogadishu have studied in difficult environments. Many of these students have lost their fellow classmates in bombings, they had to navigate through frequent road closures and other harassment from security forces. Their parents had sent them to school knowing that their child may not return in the evening.They have borne the burden of lack of central government led education and lack of security.  But they made these immense sacrifices because they knew their children's future depended on their education in a vast changing world. After all the hardships, and challenges that Mogadishu students overcame, It is unacceptable- today the ministry of education  to issue results that are flawed and questionable on many levels. These results will inevitably cause anguish to many of these poor parents. 

We all agree that education is  important; a student’s ability to pass the Somali National High School Exam can determine his/her place in society and the course of his/her life. And because of this it is important we provide a high quality exam system that is fair. If we don’t, students who fail, because of exam mismanagement or because they didn’t receive adequate time to prepare (i.e. disruptions caused by Covid-19) will unjustly be denied top ranking and lose chances at obtaining scholarships that could change their life; and students who are allowed to cheat in order to pass, will gain unearned privileges. We can’t let this happen!

We are calling for the leaders of the Federal Government of Somalia and  Ministry of Education to:

1. Immediately rescind the exam results, and allow students to take the exam again after proper preparation.
   Provide uniform testing procedures to prevent cheating and to preserve the integrity of the exam
2. Create an independent review board to review the exam results
   Provide support and a second chance for students who have failed in the exam (refund any fees associated with examinations). 
3. Review the credentials of all schools in Somalia to ensure they are accredited and provide quality education 
4. Review teachers qualifications to teach and require licensure
5. Review qualifications of Ministry of Education staff from director to staff assistant, to graders and whether staff of ministry of education have the necessary qualifications for their roles