Secondary school education is offered for four years to learners in the 15-18 year age bracket and leads to a Puntland Secondary School Certificate Examination (PSCE). The broad aims of secondary education are two fold: (a) to provide its beneficiaries with the knowledge to pursue further education; and (b) to enable them to acquire basic life skills required to earn a living.

In addition to the broad aims of secondary education mentioned in section 1.4, the objectives of secondary school education are to:

• Facilitate all around development of students spiritually, mentally and morally according to the norms and principles of Islam so that they can make positive contributions to the development of society.
• Equip learners with appropriate skills and attitudes to enable them to achieve a better understanding of the world around them.
• Equip learners with appropriate knowledge, skills, attitudes and insights that will empower them to realize their full potential.
• Develop critical thinking and problem solving abilities in the students.
• Promote attitudes related to patriotism, co-operation and adaptability.
• Develop the knowledge base for students’ access to tertiary education within Puntland and abroad.
• Equip students, for whom the secondary education may be terminal, with functional skills to enable them earn living

To attain the above objectives, ten subjects are taught in secondary schools, namely:

mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, Somali, Arabic, Islamic studies, English, physical education, geography and history All subjects, with the exception of physical education, are compulsory. Except for the Somali and Arabic languages and
Islamic studies, the English language will be the medium of instruction in secondary schools. Each school week will be comprised of 40 periods of 45 minutes each.

Policy Directions

The Government will actively work to expand and improve access to and the quality of Secondary Education with the following key policy objectives:

• Increase of the participation of youth aged 15-18 in secondary education to at least 20% of the total age group by 2014.
• Increase of the participation of girls enrolled in secondary education from the estimated 10% to 30% of total state secondary enrollment by 2014.
• Improve the overall participation of male and female youth with special education needs in secondary education.
• Improve the overall participation of nomadic communities and vulnerable and economically disadvantaged male and female youth in secondary education.

The Government will embark on a campaign to increase access to secondary education through a deliberate policy of school construction and the training of secondary school teachers.

The Government will also embark on a policy of school library construction and ensure that every secondary schools has functional library The Government will see to the Provision of a conducive learning/teaching environment in schools through the construction of more learner-friendly blocks and through the provision of adequate and separate latrines for female and male students.

To encourage a culture of reading, the government will establish libraries in all secondary schools and see that these are fully equipped and staffed.

To ensure the psycho-social and full development of secondary school children, the government and communities will work together to provide recreational materials and facilities in all secondary schools