The Role of Education in Livelihoods in the Somali Region ...

JUNE 2011

Strengthening the humanity and dignity of people in crisis through knowledge and practice

A report for the BRIDGES Project

The Role of Education in Livelihoods in the Somali Region of Ethiopia

Elanor Jackson

?2011 Feinstein International Center. All Rights Reserved.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Department for International Development as part of the BRIDGES pilot project, implemented by Save the Children UK, Mercy Corps, and Islamic Relief in the Somali Region.

The author especially appreciates the support and ideas of Alison Napier of Tufts University in Addis Ababa. Thanks also to Mercy Corps BRIDGES project staff in Jijiga and Gode, Islamic Relief staff and driver in Hargelle, Save the Children UK staff in Dire Dawa, and the Tufts driver. In particular, thanks to Hussein from Mercy Corps in Jijiga for organizing so many of the interviews.

Thanks also to Andy Catley from Tufts University and to Save the Children UK, Islamic Relief, Mercy Corps, and Tufts University staff in Addis Ababa for their ideas and logistical assistance. Thanks also to Tina Wallace.

Above all, thank you to all those informants in the Somali Region who contributed their time and personal stories and to Asmaa Jama Mahamud for her expert translation skills and invaluable insights.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in the report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect DFID policies or the views of Save the Children UK, Islamic Relief, Mercy Corps, and Tufts University.

The names of many of the informants have been changed.

Children and adults gave their informed consent for the use of their photographs in this report.

The Role of Education in Livelihoods in the Somali Region of Ethiopia

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Contents

Acronyms

6

1. Executive Summary

7

2. Introduction

10

2.1 Overview of the project

10

2.2 Background to the study

11

2.2.1 Objective and methodology

11

2.2.2 Ethical issues

11

2.2.3 Limitations of the approach

12

3. Background/context

13

3.1 Livelihoods in the study areas

13

3.1.1 Rural areas

13

3.1.2 Urban areas

15

3.2 Education in the study areas

16

4. Findings

18

4.1 The Evolution of secular education in the SRS

18

4.1.1 Haile Selassi's Regime (1930?1974)

20

4.1.2 Mengistu Regime (1974?1991)

22

4.1.3 EPRDF (1991?2011)

24

4.2 Quranic education

28

4.3 Development trends in the Somali Region

29

4.3.1 Urbanization

30

4.3.2 Role of remittances in support of education development

31

4.3.3 Khat

32

4.4 P erceptions of the role of education in supporting pastoral

livelihoods and alternative livelihoods

33

4.4.1 Somali professionals

33

4.4.2 Community members, including community elders

35

4.4.3 G overnment staff in the Bureau of Education and Bureau of

Youth and Sport, Somali Region

38

4.4.4 Youth, both in and out of education

39

4.4.5 Employers

41

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4.5 Barriers to improving education

43

4.5.1 Demand for education

44

4.5.2 Shortage of teachers

45

4.5.3 Teacher quality

45

4.5.4 Lack of teaching equipment

46

4.5.5 No options for continuing in education

46

4.5.6 Bricks versus books

49

4.5.7 ABE challenges

49

4.6 Barriers to girls' education and livelihood opportunities

51

4.7 Youth aspirations and experiences

55

4.7.1 Youth aspirations

55

4.7.2 Young people's experiences

56

4.8 Employment opportunities arising from the current education approach

58

4.8.1 Working for government

58

4.8.2 The impact of regional development

60

4.8.3 Working in the private sector

61

4.8.4 Livelihood options for pastoralist drop-outs

65

5. Conclusions

68

6. Endnotes

71

7. Annexes

7.1 Annex I?Informant Case Studies

74

7.1.1 Somali professionals educated from primary to tertiary levels

75

7.1.2 C ommunity leaders such as elders and religious leaders and

community members

94

7.1.3 Government staff in the Bureau of Education, Somali Region

111

7.1.4 Youth, both in and out of education

113

7.1.5 Employers

125

7.2 Annex II?Terms of Reference for Study

128

The Role of Education in Livelihoods in the Somali Region of Ethiopia

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