School closures put hundreds of teachers out of work in Garowe

(ERGO) – The families of hundreds of teachers in Garowe and nearby villages in Somalia’s Puntland state have lost their jobs after the closure of some schools and the overall reduction of teaching staff due to financial difficulties. Jama Mohamud Ahmed, a teacher, said he could no longer meet the basic needs of his nine-member family after losing his job.

Jama taught English at Waberi primary and middle school in Garowe and earned $200 a month that covered food, water, rent and his children’s education.

“We only cook once a day. We rely on relatives, friends and neighbours when we need help,” he said. “Not being able to provide enough food for my children is a heavy burden. If the situation continues like this, it will become even harder.”

His family struggles to access water, relying on a jerrycan or less from better-off people who can afford the $0.40 charged by private water vendors.

At the end of August, the family was evicted from their stone-built room when he failed to pay the $80 monthly rent, electricity and piped water. They moved from Koowda Agoosto to an open area on the outskirts of Garowe and built a makeshift shelter from cloth and sticks.

Jama said his children, the youngest aged three, were struggling with the heat and cold, as the shelter is flimsy.

“The number of students at the school where I taught has fallen sharply. Many parents have withdrawn their children and moved them to other schools, while others could no longer afford the school fees,” he explained.

He has searched for casual jobs in Garowe over the past two months but hasn’t found work. Many are competing for the few jobs on offer.

Three of his children, in grades four and six, have stopped attending school as he failed to pay their combined $25 fees. They were sent home.

Jama, who has taught for nearly 10 years, said he regrets not having saved money and is uncertain about finding another teaching job.

The affected teachers worked in private schools and schools run by the Puntland government and aid organisations in Garowe’s displacement camps.

Hamdi Ali Ahmed, who taught science for 15 years at a primary and middle school in Shabelle camp, said she had been unable to provide enough food for her eight children since losing her job and monthly salary of $110 in July.

“Unemployment has affected me severely. I cook for my children only on days when I have something to provide; when I have nothing, they go hungry,” Hamdi said.

She is a single parent and has no other source of income. She is relying now on credit from a neighbourhood shop. This month, the shopkeeper reduced their supplies to 10 kilograms each of rice and sugar. She owes $150 that she has to repay next month or they will lose further credit.

They also beg small amounts of water from neighbours as Hamdi can’t afford the $0.20 charged for a jerrycan by private borehole operators.

The school where she worked was run by the Puntland education ministry. It was demolished, and everyone living in Shabelle camp was evicted. In the open area where they moved to, she has begun putting up a shelter but can’t afford to complete it. They have to share a neighbour’s toilet.

Four of her children, in grades six and seven, have been out of school since she lost her job and they had to move out to the new site that has no services.

“We are displaced and can’t afford to build a school ourselves. We are asking for a school to be built so that we can return to work,” she appealed.

The chairman of the Nugal Teachers’ Association, Abdinasir Yusuf Halliye, said a survey conducted in June found that 400 teachers in public and private schools in Garowe and surrounding villages had lost their jobs since the beginning of the year due to financial difficulties and school closures.

Some schools cut staff after parents could no longer afford school fees, leaving them unable to pay teachers’ salaries. Other schools have reduced staff, with some assigning one teacher to teach two or three subjects because they cannot afford to hire more staff.

“We have reported information about the teachers and the challenges they face to all relevant authorities, but we have yet to see any action,” Abdinasir said.

“Support from international organisations has ended, and schools no longer receive the assistance they previously relied on. We urge the Puntland government to pay closer attention to the challenges facing education and to provide any support available to teachers.”

The chairman said 30 primary and middle schools had closed since the beginning of the year because of financial hardship in communities, mainly due to drought and recurring conflict.

Source: Ergo