MOGADISHU, August 24, 2026 — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Monday met the 10 students who achieved the highest scores in the country’s national Grade 12 secondary school examinations, praising their performance and promising educational opportunities for those wishing to continue their studies in Somalia.
The meeting in Mogadishu was held to congratulate and encourage the top-performing students following the release of the national examination results.
Hassan Sheikh praised the students for their dedication, perseverance and academic achievements, urging them to maintain their efforts as they pursue higher education.
The president said students who wished to continue their education at universities inside Somalia would be provided with free educational opportunities, in a move aimed at supporting high-achieving students and encouraging the country’s next generation of leaders.
“Every student who is interested in continuing their education inside the country will have access to a free education opportunity,” the presidency said, according to a statement following the meeting.
The initiative is intended to encourage talented Somali students to remain in the country and pursue higher education while contributing to the development of its education sector.
Hassan Sheikh also said the government was planning to establish another public university specialising in technology-related fields.
The proposed institution would offer programmes focused on technology and modern sciences, providing Somali youth with access to higher-quality educational opportunities in areas considered increasingly important to the country’s economic and social development.
The president said the university would particularly target young Somalis interested in modern sciences and technology.
Somalia’s education sector has faced major challenges over decades, including limited access to higher education, shortages of qualified teachers and inadequate infrastructure. The government has increasingly highlighted education and skills development as priorities for the country’s young population.
The meeting with the top students comes as the government seeks to promote academic achievement and expand opportunities for young Somalis.
The president encouraged the students to view their success in the national examinations as the beginning of a longer educational journey rather than an end point, according to the statement.
The government’s pledge of free university education for interested top-performing students could provide an incentive for high-achieving graduates to pursue further studies locally.
The planned technology-focused public university would also add to Somalia’s state-run higher education institutions and could help expand training in fields linked to the country’s growing demand for technological skills.
The government has yet to announce a timetable for establishing the new university or provide details on its planned location, academic programmes and funding.
For the students honoured at Monday’s meeting, however, the president’s pledge offers a direct pathway to continue their studies while remaining in Somalia.
The initiative also underscores the government’s effort to promote education as a foundation for developing a skilled workforce and preparing a new generation to take on leadership roles in the country.
