Girls Top Banadir’s 8th-Grade Exam as Results Released

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The Federal Government of Somalia’s Ministry of Education on Thursday released the results of Banadir region’s 8th-grade examinations, with girls outperforming boys for the first time and sweeping the top three positions.

A total of 41,036 students sat for the exams across 108 centres in Mogadishu and surrounding areas, out of 41,655 who had registered. The ministry reported that 5,790 students passed.

Girls achieved a 50% pass rate, edging ahead of boys at 49%. Education officials hailed the milestone as a sign of progress in gender equality and a boost to the role of young women in Somalia’s development.

The top scorers were Sakiyo Abdullahi Ali Iman, Zahra Ahmed Ali Mohamed and Maimun Ramadan Ali Omar. All three are female – a first in the history of the regional exams.

Full results are available at banadir.exam.so, part of a wider government push to modernise the examination process and improve transparency.

Authorities said they will continue supporting students in advancing to secondary school or vocational training, framing the results as a step toward a more skilled and educated Somali workforce.