The federal government, the member states and Somaliland each have an education ministry. The system is 8-4, national exams are held in June, and most schools are non-government.
Somalia has thousands of schools; this list covers universities and verified institutions. Editors keep adding more.
The Federal Government's education ministry in Mogadishu. It sets national education policy, curriculum and standards, administers the national Grade 12 secondary examination and works with regional and district education officers. Its Department of Umbrella and Private Education deals with non-state schools.
Federal body created under the Higher Education Law of 2024 to oversee universities; the Council of Ministers approved its members in 2025. In August 2026 it began consultations on a national policy, strategy, regulations and quality standards with up to 200 criteria, using university self-assessment and verification visits.
Unit of the federal education ministry responsible for national examinations and certificates. The ministry reintroduced national secondary examinations in 2015; in 2026 the Grade 12 exam was held from 20 to 25 June in 158 centres across 58 districts.
Federal ministry that oversees Qur'anic schooling, according to UNESCO's PEER profile of Somalia.
Federal ministry that runs the National Institute of Skills and Vocational Training in Mogadishu (formerly the Industrial Vocational Training Centre, 'Xero Jarmal').
Schools in Mogadishu are supervised by the federal education ministry through its regional education office, working with the Banadir Regional Administration. In February 2026 the ministry and the regional administration jointly reopened the Mohamud Ahmed Ali TVET Centre in Kaaraan.
Puntland's education ministry, based in Garowe. Its departments cover quality assurance, policy and planning, formal education, TVET and non-formal education, and curriculum development and teacher training, and it has nine regional education offices. It runs its own Grade 8 and Grade 12 examinations.
Office of Puntland's Ministry of Education and Higher Education that administers the Grade 8 and Grade 12 examinations and publishes results online.
Board within Puntland's Ministry of Education and Higher Education that deals with higher education in the state.
Education ministry of Jubaland State (capital Kismayo). Like other federal member states, it has its own ministry and state education budget.
Education ministry of South West State (administrative capital Baidoa), responsible for schools in Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle.
Education ministry of Galmudug State (capital Dhusamareb), responsible for schools in Galgaduud and the Galmudug-administered parts of Mudug.
Education ministry of Hirshabelle State (capital Jowhar), responsible for schools in Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle.
Education ministry of Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 and administers its own education system (the Federal Government considers it part of Somalia). Formed in 1992 and based in Hargeisa, it has twelve departments, including formal, non-formal and technical and vocational education, and licenses private schools under regulations adopted in 2018.
Somaliland's National Education Law (Article 50) requires every student completing a level to sit the national certificate examination, which is organised under the Ministry of Education and Science.
Somaliland's regulator for universities. In 2021 it rejected a federal ministry announcement recognising 41 universities, including some in Somaliland, saying the federal government had not evaluated any Somaliland university.
The UN children's agency supports access to schooling, education in emergencies and early learning. It introduced integrated Qur'anic schools that combine religious and secular teaching, and it developed the Learning Passport digital platform used in Puntland.
The UN agency for education, science and culture. Its Global Education Monitoring Report publishes the PEER profile of Somalia's education system, and its institutes hold education data and sector plans.
The UN global fund for education in emergencies, active in Somalia since 2017. Its total investment in the country reached US$64.2 million in 2025, including a US$17.1 million multi-year programme led by ADRA with Save the Children, Concern Worldwide and FENPS to reach more than 43,000 children.
Global fund that supports education sector planning in low-income countries. It has supported Somali education sector plans, including Somaliland's Education Sector Strategic Plan 2017–2021, and its data are widely used to measure non-state provision.
Development lender and research partner. Its 2018 study of Somali education counted 14 private-school umbrella organisations linked to more than 1,000 schools and over 250,000 students, and 201,293 children in traditional Qur'anic schools.
Coordination group for humanitarian education partners, part of the UN-led cluster system; globally the Education Cluster is co-led by UNICEF and Save the Children. The 2025 humanitarian appeal for education in Somalia sought US$68.6 million and was 29% funded by May 2025.
International children's charity and a partner in emergency and basic education programmes, including the ECW-funded multi-year resilience programme announced in 2025.
Humanitarian organisation that supports education for displaced children in Somalia, including children affected by floods, with ECW funding.
One of the largest umbrella networks of private schools in Somalia. Umbrella organisations set standards, develop curricula and train teachers for member schools; FENPS is a consortium partner in the ECW programme announced in 2025.
Foundation that runs schools in Somaliland, including Pharo Secondary School in Sheikh (the former Sheikh Secondary School) and a TVET centre in Hargeisa.
Non-profit network behind Abaarso School of Science and Technology (founded 2009) and Barwaaqo University, a women's teachers' college founded in 2017.