Somalia cancels exams, to shut down social media in new take

Education Minister Abdullahi Barre has cancelled the form four final exams and announced social media shut down at the end of May when a retake will be conducted.

Barre made the announcement Monday night as papers set for today- Biology and English were circulating in social media platforms.

By the close of business Monday, the students in Banaadir, Jubbaland, South West and Galmudug had completed six papers and were remaining with four, set for completion Tuesday. Only Puntland is not participating in the standardised national exams.

But the Minister’s announcement Monday night put off balance thousands of students who were on the edge of completing their exams.

The rest of the country will suffer collateral damage as a result of the exams leakage. Social media platforms will be blacked out in the country for five days between May 27-31.

The minister noted the exams leakage came from one centre but has now affected 31,000 students spread over 100 centres countrywide.

Meanwhile, students in Mogadishu are this morning holding demonstrations following the cancellation of the exams. The students chanting ‘we don’t want Barre’ held demonstrations along Maka al Mukarama street.