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Sponsorship for bright students
by Abdirashid Ali
Thursday, December 18, 2008
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Sheikh Secondary School |
SOS HG Sheikh Secondary School is one of the projects of SOS Children’s Villages in Somaliland. The school operates as a non-profit making, social development organization and entirely depends on private contributions with the principle objective of improving the quality of life of disadvantaged children in Somaliland. In line with the Somaliland government’s high expectation of restoring the school to its past glory, SOS HG Sheikh Secondary School in conjunction with the ministry of education each year selects and admits sixty best performing students in Grade Eight national examinations irrespective of their ethnicity, religion or geographical background. Currently the school has an enrolment of 209 students drawn all over Somaliland in a double stream. SOS HG Sheikh - secondary school is ranked among the best in the world. The graduates of this school rank among the top ten schools in the world every year
A Distinguishing feature of Sheikh Secondary School is its uniqueness- in that it is the only school in Somaliland implementing a dual curriculum – Somaliland national and the prestigious International General Certificate of Secondary Education (London) IGCSE. In addition, it is the only boarding institution in the country that also provides separate accommodation facilities for Girls and Boys. In this regard, the school gives quality Education through committed staff, and necessary physical facilities such as well stocked library for independent learning and computer/Science laboratories for practicals, all stocked through donations.
SOS Children’s villages are found in 132 countries and territories where they operate through national associations. The staff of these independent associations support and coordinate the work of facilities in the country concerned in close collaboration with the authorities, National institutions, partners and friends.
SOS Kinderdorf International with its Headquarters in Innsbruck (Austria) is the umbrella organization for all SOS Children’s Villages Association.
Aims and Objectives:
The hope of the late president Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal was that Sheikh Secondary School should be restored to its former glory and that it shall be a beacon of hope for future leaders of this great country, and this fits well with the SOS Children Villages mission and philosophy which is to strive to create a secure, caring environment where students can experience success and achieve their full potential within a broad and balanced curriculum.
The aim of the school is therefore to prepare young people to become respectful contributing citizens of not only the Republic of Somaliland but, also in the entire horn of Africa through quality learning. The school also aims to provide an environment in which the youth can be redeemed and enriched intellectually, physically and spiritually through improved knowledge and skills. A major aim of the school is to produce skilled man power that this country so desperately needs. This shall be done through improvement of academic program and reduced wastages and drop out rates.
Statement of Problem:
Rising levels of poverty among the general population of Somaliland as a result of the prevailing socio-economic climatic and political conditions has impacted negatively on the provision of quality education.
As an institution SOS HG Sheikh School is not an exception to this sorry situation. A non-profit making organization, SOS Charges School fees which is commensurate with the level and economic situation of the country. However, it has become increasingly difficult for most parents to pay the required fees thus, leaving the school with a great burden of unpaid fees arrears therefore reducing the school’s income drastically.
The problem is further compounded because SOS Kinderdorf which provides workers salaries and the school’s running costs normally consider fees as income to the school hence; equivalent amount of money is deducted from the running cost of the school submitted each year. This falling income has greatly effected our operations and aspiration of providing quality education to these bright, poor and viable citizens of this country. It’s sad to note that three quarters of the parents of these students live in abject and dehumanizing poverty, hardly affording one square meal a day. It’s obvious that in such a scenario education becomes a luxury. However, we at SOS HG Sheikh School strongly believe that education is springboard of life, of hope and of prosperity; It is this noble vision that we would like to share with your esteemed individual and organizations. This is in line with SOS policy of recognizing external support from friendly organizations to attain social cohesion around a common interest.
Against this background we submit this brief proposal to you for participating and contributing to helping these bright needy to further their education. The majority of the sponsorship beneficiaries will be able to actively become involved with their families and can once more lead useful, productive lives.
Needs analysis.
Every year 40 to 45 students complete their secondary education with certificates from Edexcel London Examination and Somaliland National Exam by the ministry of Education. Because of the financial strain in the country few parents are able to send their students to universities inside or outside the country, while many of these student achieving A*s from both Edexcel and Somaliland are roaming here and there, demoralized and desperate.
To put an end to this disaster, the school is seeking an external or internal help from organizations and private individuals who are willing to extend a merciful and generous hand for humanitarian basis to those needy students to sponsor their education fully in order to achieve a better life in future.
Excising sponsors now:
Currently there are few individuals who are supporting these needy students in side Somaliland and abroad.
Mr. Jamal Ali Hussein is a Somaliland citizen living in Ivory Coast and is among the sponsors of these needy students under Galol Scholarship Fund (GSF). He generously pays the total cost of fees and university accommodation expenses for 2 students who are studying Medicine in the University of Uganda in Kampala
Jamal supports 5 students with school fees every year who are currently in the school; we are grateful for Mr. Jamal for helping these students.
Mr. Mustafe Jama is a Somaliland citizen living in USA; He is also among the sponsors of these needy students with school fees. Mustafe supported 10 students with school fees in the first batch and is continuing to support two students in Malaysia.
TELESOM Company a telecommunication company in Somaliland supports 9 students with school fees every year. Thanks to Mr. Abdikarim who visited our school and promised to continue this scholarship programme for these students.
Abdirashid Ali
E-mail: [email protected]