LASANOD (KAAB TV) – In the northern Somali city of Lasanod, located in the Sool region, a small group of teachers, led by Seynab Mohamud Gelle, is striving to educate deaf and blind children from impoverished families.
Despite lacking both sign language instruction and adequate trained teachers, Seynab and her colleagues are determined to provide daily classes to over 30 children at their primary school.
Kaab TV visited the school this week, where Seynab explained the uphill battle they face.
“The school lacks the resources needed to properly educate children with special needs,” she said.
The institution had only reopened in April this year, following nearly a year of deadly clashes in Lasanod.
The fighting between Somaliland forces and the local SSC-Khaatumo forces over control of the city had forced the students and teachers to flee.
In August 2023, SSC-Khaatumo regained control of Lasanod, and a new administration allowed displaced residents to return. Since then, children from nearby villages have been arriving daily, hoping to enroll in the school.
“Many children can’t access education, particularly in areas affected by conflict,” Seynab noted.
Destruction of schools, community displacement, and a lack of trained teachers have left the education system in a dire state, compounded by financial challenges due to insufficient government funding and widespread poverty.
The statistics paint a grim picture, with nearly 70% of school-age children not attending school in Somalia.
“Children with special needs are now accepted in regular schools, but many parents can’t afford the fees, so our work here is only just beginning,” Seynab explained.
However, the lack of specialized teachers trained to work with blind and deaf students remains a critical issue. Without local teachers with these skills, Seynab and her colleagues are struggling to keep the school on track, causing them to fall behind the scheduled 2024 term.
One of the school’s few assets is Abdifatah Hussein, the only male teacher for the deaf and blind. After receiving training in Ethiopia, Abdifatah returned to Lasanod to assist the school.
“The school is free; we do not charge any fees. We encourage local families to bring their children,” he said.
However, convincing parents to send their children to school remains a challenge. Deep-rooted stereotypes persist in the community, where many still believe that blind and deaf children cannot learn.
This misconception threatens the futures of millions of children across Somalia, a reality that Seynab and Abdifatah are fighting to change.
“We want the children to come and learn,” Abdifatah added.