Schools in Beledweyne town Reopen After Floodwaters Recede

Hundreds of students in Beledweyne have returned to school after a month-long disruption caused by floods that hit the town.

Dozens of schools in Beledweyne were closed in April following heavy floods that inflicted a trail of destruction.

The riverine neighbourhoods were the worst affected in the town after River Shabelle broke its banks, affecting some 300,000 people in Beledweyne town.

The rains and floods drastically affect the schools and the learning process in the town as the National exams in the region were called off.

One month later, Several schools have been reopened as floodwaters receded.

Abdullahi Hassan Barkhadle, the headteacher of Mujma’a School who spoke to Halbeeg News said the school resumed learning process following weeks of learning disruption caused by the floods.

“We have reopened the school this week. Students and teachers made a comeback as the floodwaters receded,” said Barkhadle.

The headmaster confirmed that many of the schools in Beledweyne town have restarted learning.

“Despite the trail of destruction caused by the floods and rains that pounded the town, most of the schools in the town have been reopened,” he said.

He said the teachers and the administration will be working around the clock to fill the learning gap and the delay caused by the floods.

“We are trying to cover the topics planned to be taught during course of the floods. As per the syllabus and the learning schedules we need to rush to repay the lost time,” he explained.

National Exams

The government administered exams for the 2017/18 form four class scheduled to take place in Beledweyne tow were canceled last month after the town was inundated with floods splashed by River Shabelle.

Over 1,400 students from different schools in Beledweyne town would have sit for the exams according to Somali ministry for Education.

Barkhadle said the examinations for the Form Four Students will start next week.

“The floods had an impact on the learning process as well as the final exams of Form four students. Now we came back and we are the exams to kick off on 9th of this month,” Barkhadle said.

The floods that hit Beledweyne town had washed away houses, schools and hospital, leading humanitarian crisis.

The Somali government has tasked committee to assess the damage and deliver aid to the victims.