(ERGO) – More than 3,300 children from low-income and pastoralist families have been out of school this year since the closure of at least 33 primary and intermediate schools in rural parts of central Somalia.
Families have abandoned their homes in search of water and pasture, leaving schools empty across Mudug and Galgadud regions, in the districts of Adado, Galkayo, Dusamareb, Guriel, and Abudwak.
Mohamed Abdi Ahmed is among those who stayed in Haad-fuul, where his four children had been attending the local primary school. Most families left due to the worsening drought so the school closed last December.
“The drought affected us and forced the children out of school,” he said. “Many pastoralist families moved away, but we could not leave. It is very painful for me to see my children without education, and I have no means to support them.”
He cannot afford to send his children to private schools in Dhusamareb, where fees are around $10 per child. He had begun to see the progress they were making at school and hoped they would achieve a better future than his own, as he never had access to education.
His family of 10 is among about 10 other families remaining in the village, where food shortage is a daily reality. The family relies on 37 kilograms of flour, sugar, and rice received from Dhusamareb drought response committee in March, which they stretch by cooking once a day.
“Our situation is very difficult, sometimes we get food, sometimes we don’t. There are many challenges. We have no income, and it is very painful,” Mohamed told Radio Ergo.
He cannot take up manual labour due to a leg injury from an old gunshot wound. His wife has recently given birth, and their young children cannot help support the household.
The drought killed off 60 goats and five camels, leaving only 20 weak animals that no longer provide income. They also struggle to access water, as there are no functioning wells in the area, and wind driven sand dunes prevent water trucks reaching the village. A barrel of water costs around $5.
Mohamed has a long-standing debt of $2,700 owed to traders in Dusamareb that he cannot repay.
The school in Haad-fuul was established in April 2024 and had 136 students.
In another affected village, Hog-dugaag, Zeynab Mohamed Abdi’s three children are missing out on their primary classes as the school there closed too.
“Their lack of education worries me deeply. I can’t take them to town because I can’t afford the school fees or the cost of living there. This situation has made my children idle, and I fear they could go down the wrong path,” Zeynab said.
The nearest school is in Adado, about 40 kilometres away. Without income, her family of nine remain in the village despite the lack of services with just five other families.
They receive occasional support from relatives in Adado and otherwise go hungry. Her small food business that made $10 to $15 a day closed in January when all her customers left due to the drought.
“There is no business without people. Previously, I could provide for my children, but now everything is gone. If the rains return, I hope to reopen,” she said.
The local well broke down two months ago, forcing families to buy water at around $4 per barrel. She usually obtains 20 litres a day from neighbours.
Her family lost 50 goats last year due to drought and disease. Her husband has been unable to find jobs in nearby towns.
The director of planning at Galmudug state education ministry, Bashi Duale, said drought had severely disrupted efforts to expand free education in rural areas.
“Our plan was to bring education to remote communities, but drought has forced schools to close. Families are moving in search of water and pasture, and children are moving with them. Even where schools remain open, students and teachers are no longer present,” the director said.
He added that the government had been unable to prevent the school closures due to the severity of the drought. They were prioritising efforts to support affected communities whose livelihoods had collapsed.
