Garoowe, Somalia – Puntland’s Vice President, Ilyas Osman Lugatoor, has directly addressed serious educational challenges facing students in the SSC-Khaatumo regions, emphasizing that Puntland can no longer remain silent about this issue.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Puntland’s 2025 secondary and intermediate examinations on May 24, 2025, Lugatoor pledged efforts to improve access to and quality of education in the region.

He revealed that over the past three years, SSC-Khaatumo students have experienced significant educational neglect, which he attributed to ongoing conflicts and political mismanagement in the area.

Lugatoor also criticized the SSC-Khaatumo leadership for wasting time in political disputes and campaigning for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his party in Mogadishu instead of focusing on education.

“The circumstances compel us to rely on whatever means possible to improve education, and the Ministry of Education is committed to this cause,” he said.

Despite political obstacles, Lugatoor stressed Puntland’s firm commitment to advancing education in SSC-Khaatumo.

He highlighted Puntland’s substantial investments in education within the region, citing over $3 million spent in Taleex district and more than $7 million in Cayn and Sool districts.