Somalia, Pakistan Agree To Deepen Cooperation on Inclusive Education

GOOBJOOG NEWS | ISLAMABAD: Somalia and Pakistan have agreed to strengthen cooperation in inclusive education, with both countries pledging to expand opportunities for girls and people with disabilities as part of broader efforts to improve access to quality education.

The agreement was reached during talks in Islamabad between officials from Somalia’s Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development and Pakistan’s Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.

The discussions focused on increasing collaboration in special needs education, improving access to learning for children with disabilities and promoting the teaching of sign language to make education more accessible for people with hearing impairments.

Both sides underscored that inclusive education is essential for sustainable development, social inclusion and economic participation, and agreed to explore practical areas of cooperation, including knowledge sharing, capacity building and the exchange of expertise.

The meeting comes as Somalia continues efforts to rebuild its education system after decades of conflict left millions of children with limited access to schooling. The government, working alongside international partners, has increasingly prioritised inclusive education to ensure that girls, children with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are not left behind.

Pakistan has expanded programmes aimed at improving technical training and inclusive education in recent years, making it a potential partner for Somalia as it seeks to strengthen educational institutions and develop policies that support equal access to learning.

On the sidelines of her visit to Islamabad, Somalia’s Minister of Family and Human Rights Development, Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, also signed a condolence book at the Qatari Embassy following the death of Qatar’s former emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, conveying Somalia’s condolences to the Qatari government and people.

The education discussions reflect broader efforts by Somalia to deepen partnerships beyond the Horn of Africa, as Mogadishu seeks international cooperation in sectors such as education, healthcare, governance and human capital development to support the country’s long-term recovery and economic growth.