1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

 

 

 

 

Project Identification:           UNICEF Somalia: CSZ/YE400/01/2005/000214

                                                AWP Reference: YE400/CSZ/01/Act.1/ Task 1.1

 

Project Title:                                      Primary Formal Education                                                                

 

 

Location:                                            Merka, Lower Shabelle Region                      

 

 

Funding organization:                      UNICEF                                

 

 

Implementing agency:                     New Ways                             

 

 

Beneficiaries:                                     School age children: Entire school aged children, school returnees and community                               

 

Duration:                                            From: 18^th September, 2005  To: 08^th October, 2005                                                         

 

 

Project Goal:                                      Improve quality of education through community mobilization

                                          

 

 

 

 

2. INTRODUCTION:

 

GEO-POLITICAL SITUATION: 

Lying on the coast of the Indian Ocean, at about 100 km south of Mogadishu, the ancient city of Merka is the capital city of Lower Shabelle Region, a region which is potentially the richest and most fertile area of Somalia. Lower Shabelle has heavily suffered from the consequences of the civil war, which broke out in southern Somalia after the fall of Siyad Barre’s regime. As in many other cities of Somalia, high unemployment and stagnating economy are presently seriously affecting Merka. In the absence of an official census, its population is estimated at approximately 65,000 to 100,000 inhabitants, half of which arrived and settled in the area in the early 90s. The total population of Lower Shabelle, which is the second most populated region of Somalia, is thought to be around one million. One and half to two million live in the capital city of Mogadishu.

Despite the presence of different clans (whose number has increased by the presence of IDPs) and the absence of an effective local administration for over ten years, the community of Merka successfully maintains a peaceful cohabitation among its different components. The people of Lower Shabelle were always multiclan and those of Merka are well known for their tolerance and peaceful coexistence with all Somali communities.

 

Currently there is a regional administration in place with a governor and four vice administrators: administrative, political, social and security. A judiciary and police stations have been established in some parts of the region. Representatives of the administration have been nominated to deal with international and national NGOs, education, health, veterinary and agricultural affairs. The personalities heading these various positions or departments reflect the social make-up of the dominant as well as the minor clans of Lower Shabelle region. The local population is so far satisfied with the administration. The local community are now paying taxes following the good feeling developed for the administration after its moves for road safety and the reduction of night-criminal acts through road and street patrolling and with a high profile of the local police and led to this satisfaction. The administration is attempting to eradicate the cultivation of hashish in the region, which expanded during the period of absence of centralized government in the country. It prohibited also cutting of Mango fruit trees.  Lately the administration also re-established road signs in the city and started regulating traffic rules.

 

 

With the improvement of the town’s security many families from Mogadishu and other unstable areas were attracted and temporarily came to settle here. Many families moved from areas like Mogadishu, Baidoa and towns in the Lower Jubba Region.

 

Currently there are many schools offering both primary and secondary education. But though the prevailing security is encouraging and the number of schools in operation can host greater number, the enrolments of the schools are not convincing. To find out the reason leading to their staying out it was decided to carry out a census of children aged between 6 and 14 who are in school and who are not in school and the cause.

 

 

3. Vision

 

In a bid to reinforce United Nations’ declaration of “Education for All”, it has to be seen that all children go to school. This will not only reduce illiteracy in Merca but reduce the rate of criminology as well. For the community to live in a stable and peaceful town, education should be promoted. Being a fundamental right, education is the parameter that gauges the country’s development. It is an important component for the development of a country and its people.

 

4. Mission

 

To extend education to all Somali children a strategy of intervention should be developed for unlucky children aged 6-14 who did not get the opportunity to learn. This should include a curriculum specially designed for the target age group as there are many children within the target age group who are not in school for reasons related to poverty. In the strategy development it is vital to know how many children of this sort are not in school and why. The latter is an integral part without which the mission realization would in reality result in failure. The reasons behind their staying out of schools will in fact make straightforward in designing the implementation strategies.   

 

5. Objectives

 

• To extend education to all children in Merka town.
• To find number of children aged 6 – 14 who are out of schools.
• Figure out some of the main reasons behind their staying out.

 

6. Strategy used in the data collection

 

For us to be able to get perfect information regarding the data collection, we used door – to door interview.  Families were interviewed at home.

We divided the town into the three parts the town was administratively divided. We also divided the students interviewing families into the three groups. Each team had elders working with them and convincing family heads and making them understand the purpose of the interview. To avoid interviewing the same family twice, teams marked houses covered. We also engaged three cars with loudspeakers mounted on them to mobilize the people towards the purpose of the data collection. Where we found that cars could not go into we engaged a local mobilizer with a loudspeaker.  The local radio was also used to air messages about the existence of the campaign and the importance of education. The messages include verses emphasizing importance of learning from the Holy Quran. Iqra meaning read, the title of the first chapter to be revealed was among quoted verses. We did so to remind parents that it is not only a child’s right but an obligation that requires execution.

  

 

 

 

7. Outcome

 

 

As was expected an alarming rate of school age children with in the target age group have been proved to be out of school. Over 90% of this number is not in school for matters related to poverty. Most of parents interviewed narrated that they could not afford to pay the little amount of money learners have to pay as fees as they struggle hard in finding a meal or two a day for them. They also explained how it is difficult for them to buy uniforms and writing materials for the children.

 

As can be seen in the data the main three villages vary as far as the number of children in school is concerned. Hawlwadag, the biggest part of the town has the least number of children (6-14) in schools. Historically the inhabitants of this part of the town had the least number of children going to school even during the reign of the former governments. Greater part of this village is inhabited by the poor fishing families and many IDP families displaced from other towns outside and within the region.

 

The following table shows data information in summary

 

Village	# of families interviewed	# of girls (6-14)	# of boys (6-14)	Total	# of girls in school	# of boys in school	Total	# of girls not in school	# of boys not in school	Total	Girls dropped out	Boys dropped out	Total
H/wadag	2305	2716	2954	5670	520	658	1178	2196	2296	4492	54	44	98
Horsed	1835	2238	2421	4659	982	1064	2046	1256	1357	2613	30	25	55
Wadajir	1449	2030	2512	4542	838	1173	2011	1192	1339	2531	53	54	107
Total	5589	6984	7887	14871	2340	2895	5235	4644	4992	9636	137	123	260

 

 

 

 

7.1. Hawlwadag Village

The outcome of the census denotes that Hawlwadag, the biggest village of the town which situates in the north and northeast of the town has up to 2305 families with children aged 6- 14. These families have a total of 5670 children within the target age group. Of this 2716 and 2954 are girls and boys respectively. And out of the total number of girls (2716) 520 are in schools. This means that 2196 girls are out of schools. For the boys 2296 are also out of schools.

 

 

 

6 – 14 in school: As can be seen from the table on page 5 only 1178 of the 5670 target age group (6 – 14) registered in the village are currently in schools. Of this target age group in school girls make 520.

 

6 – 14 out of school: It is poignant to point out that out of 5670 registered 4492 children in H/wadag village are out school of these 2196 are girls.  It is also good to know that an average of 2 children is out of school in every family interviewed.

 

6 – 14 dropped out: Of the 4492 children who are not in school, 98 dropped out of schools at different grades. Of this number 54 are girls.

 

7.2. Horsed Village

 

Horsed, the second largest village situating in the south and south west of the town has 1835 families with children aged between 6 and 14. These families have total of 4659 children of the age. Girls make 2238 of the number and that of boys is 2421. For girls and respectively 982 and 1064 go to schools. This leaves out of schools 1256 and 1357 girls and boys respectively. Girls and boys who dropped out of schools are 30 and 25 respectively which constitutes 2% of the children in Horsed who are out of schools.

 

 

 

6 – 14 in school: As can be seen from the table on page 5 only 2046 of the 4659 target age group (6 – 14) registered are currently in schools. Of the 2046 of the target age group in school girls make 982.

 

6 – 14 out of school: It is moving to bring up that out of 4659 registered 2613 children in Horsed village are not in school of these 1256 are girls.  It is also good to know that an average of one child is out of school in every family interviewed in the village. The average number of children in families interviewed is three. This shows that an average of 2 children go to school.

 

6 – 14 dropped out: Of the 2613 children who are not in school in Horsed, 55 dropped out of schools at different grades. Of this number 30 are girls.

7.3. Wadajir

 

 

6 – 14 in school: In reference to the data summary table on page 5 the village has 1449 families with the target children. 4532 children of the target group 2011 go to schools currently. For the children in school currently 838 and 1173 are girls and boys respectively

 

6 – 14 out of school: It is depressing to state that 2531 of the 4532 target children in Wadajir village are out of schools..  It is also important the respective out of schools girls and boys are 1192 and 1339. The average number of children who are out of school in each family is 2 while the average number those who are in school in each family is 1.

 

6 – 14 dropped out:   Of the 2531 children who are not in school, 107 dropped out of schools at different grades. Of this number 53 and 54 are girls and boys respectively. This makes 4 % of the those who are out of schools.

 

 

 

 

7.5. Merka Town

 

Below is a general summary of the registration campaign’s findings:

 

 

6 – 14 in school: As can be seen from the table on page 5 only 5235 only of the 14871 target age group (6 – 14) registered are currently in schools. Of the 3235 of the target age group in school girls make 2340.

 

6 – 14 ou of school: It is sad to mention that out of 14871 registered 9636 children in Merka town are not in school of these 4644 are girls.  It is also good to know that an average of 2 children is out of school in every family interviewed. The average number of children in families interviewed is three. This shows that an average of one child goes to school.

 

6 – 14 dropped out:   Of the 9636 children who are not in school, 260 dropped out of schools at different grades. Of this number 137 are girls.

 

8. Recommendation

 

In order to ensure brighter future for the children of Merka and the entire Merka community we recommend exercising every necessary step that could help the provision of basic education to these unlucky children who never had the opportunity to learn or have stopped learning after conditions restrained them. This can be done by maintaining community mobilization towards education especially girl’s education. Understanding and internalizing the importance of education for the individual child and community at large, enrolment in primary schools will certainly increase in a significant percentage.