The Hindrances to Excellence in Secondary School Education in Puntland State, Somalia
This research examines the barriers hindering quality in Puntland’s secondary education, investigating whether it effectively bridges primary and tertiary levels by assessing access, retention, and transition. Drawing on statistical analysis, the authors reveal that only 18% of school-age youth attend secondary school, with a marked gender imbalance—62% male to 38% female enrollment. They further document high student–teacher (approximately 30:1) and pupil–classroom (around 40:1) ratios, low female teacher representation, and substantial costs per pupil. These factors, they argue, undermine academic standards and progression into higher education or the workforce, underscoring the need for policy reforms to improve funding, staffing, gender parity, infrastructure, and affordability in Puntland’s secondary schools