The Fathers of Modern Somali Education

[𐒁𐒚𐒒𐒂𐒘𐒂𐒗 𐒎𐒚𐒗𐒗𐒒]

In the 1930's, Macalin Jaamac Bilaal set up 29 Schools in Mogadishu with the financial backing of Haji Dirie Hersi.

Haji Dirie Hersi was part of SYL and created the first Somali School curriculum in 1932.

 

[Dualke]

Isn't the Somali educational system just an extension of Italy's?

 

[TekNiKo]

Mashallah we should celebrate him, a school should be named after

 

[𐒁𐒚𐒒𐒂𐒘𐒂𐒗 𐒎𐒚𐒗𐒗𐒒]

Isn't the Somali educational system just an extension of Italy's?

I don't see similarities between the two and the schools and curriculum wasn't funded by Italy either. There were Italian schools in existence but their only purpose was to create interpreters.





Here is information about the man who funded the schools and created the curriculum; Haji Dirie Hersi

Prof. Dierk Lange - Haji Dirie Hirsi

2.1. Activities in Northern Somalia

Around 1924 Dirie left Jawhar for Bargaal, north of Raas Haafuun, where he set up a trading business. He worked together with an Anglo-French-Jewish company from Aden, exporting hides and importing foodstuffs and clothes for Somali customers. His business also included trade in pearls, amber and incense (luubaan).

Later he extended his business by taking advantage of an Italian salt pan established between Bargaal and Hurdiyo (Raas Haafuun) by a group of Lombardi industrialists in 1920 (Lewis 1980: 96). There were many Somali workers for whom he supplied the necessities of daily life. Soon he also provided lodgings owned by himself for the workers. After some years he was not only the proprietor of houses but also of shops and of small boats bringing the goods from the ships to the shore. Paying taxes and customs fees, he became fully integrated into the expanding money economy. In 1932 he was one of seven Somalis to go on the hajj to Mecca. By that time he had become a well-known business man.

By 1934 Haji Dirie was a constructor himself. He built houses in Mogadishu and sold them to Somalis. An important construction was the commercial centre at Hamar Weeyne which he sold to Somali traders. They opened shops, officies and restaurants in it. It was close to the Suuq of Hamar Weeyne and later became known as the Gold Market. However, building houses for the Europeans was reserved for Italians. He very much resented this colonial colour bar.

In 1935 Mogadishu became an important base for the military operations of the Italians against Ethiopia. Governor Graziani organized the construction of roads, improved the harbour facilities and accommodated about 50 000 Italians in preparation for the invasion of Ethiopia. In addition he recruited six thousand Somalis known as Zaptié. Moreover, he established and maintained an efficient base for the continuous war effort. Haji Dirie took advantage of these new opportunies by providing for the needs of the many Somalis and Italians concentrated in the capital. Again his business increased.

At some stage Haji Dirie extended his trade to southern countries. He exported frankincense (luubaan), fish, ghee (subag) and hides - the only items of trade allowed for Somalis - to Zanzibar and Mombasa, and he imported from there spices . He also traded with clothes which came originally from Europe.

Around 1942, shortly after the beginning of the British administration, he set up a company for wholesale import and export trade. He and other Somalis were allowed to participate in trade which previously was restricted to Italians and other non-Somalis

 

[𐒁𐒚𐒒𐒂𐒘𐒂𐒗 𐒎𐒚𐒗𐒗𐒒]

The relationship between Haji Dirie Hersi and Macalin Jaamac Bilaal.

3.2. Founding of a school in Mogadishu
Although Haji Dirie had no formal education, he was quick to learn from his foreign business friends. These contacts and his travels in other countries opened his eyes and made him understand how much there was to be done in Somalia. In 1932 on his own initiative he founded the first full primary school in Somalia that was adapted to the Somali situation. Previously, Somalis could only attend one of the 29 Italian elementary schools in the country for a period of three years. During the Fascist period of Italian administration, these schools served the sole purpose of providing interpreters for the government officials.

The director of the school was Muallim Jaama'a Bilaal, who was born and went to school in Aden where he became a teacher in a renowned school. Later, the Sultan of Majerteen employed him as his secretary in Haafuun. He was the one who wrote up the treaties between Boqor Usman and the Italians (Abdallah Farah). When Boqor Usman was dismissed by the Italians in 1927, he was taken to Mogadishu and put under house arrest (Lewis 1980:99). Muallim Jaama'a was likewise taken to the capital for close observation by the authorities.

In 1932 Haji Dirie employed him as a teacher and offered him a monthly salary (Ali 2005:161 has 1938). He also provided a modest building for the school in Iskuraran, and a lodging for Muallim Jaama'a in the same quarter. Haji Dire himself organized the fabrication of the benches and provided the slates and other necessary materials. Ali Kar bought the books (Abdallah Farah). It was a modern type of teaching in Arabic, quite different from the traditional Quranic teaching (dugsi). The curriculum was that of Aden, based on five books, including Hidayat al-Islam and a book for arithmetic. The parents contributed to the upkeep of the school and later on probably also provided the salary of the teacher. Open-minded Somalis, including those from other regions, sent their children to the school for modern education (Ali 2005:161).

In 1941, the British occupiers of the country intended to nationalize the school. The official in charge of education, the Senior Civil Affairs Officer Duncun, asked Muallim Jaama'a for his agreement but he was referred to Haji Dirie and some other Somali notabilities (Abdallah Farah). When Duncan met Haji Dirie, he expressed his high esteem for what he had done for the country in providing the foundation of modern education. After nationalizing the school, the British moved it to Hamar Weyne, near the De Martino Hospital. When it became too small for the many children, they transferred it to Hamar Jabjab. At that time the school was financed by the department of education, and Muallim Jaama'a became a government employee.

The teaching was in English and Arabic (Laitin 1977: 79). In 1944 there were 220 pupils who learned to read and write in Roman as well as in Arabic characters (Ali 2005: 162 n. 131). In 1950, when the Italians came back and began to prepare the country for independence, they took over the school at Hamar Jabjab and extended its curriculum for secondary schools. People did not forget the initiator of the first Somali school and they remembered Haji Dirie for a long time as the founder of modern Somali education.

 

[𐒁𐒚𐒒𐒂𐒘𐒂𐒗 𐒎𐒚𐒗𐒗𐒒]

Haji Dirie Hersi also funded the Somali Youth League (SYL).

4.1. Participation in the founding of the Somali Youth League
The role of Haji Dirie in the foundation of the Somali Youth League in 1943 is not well documented. He probably was its most important financier: he provided the first office of the League in Via Roma, and later headed the group of supporters who bought the well-known building of the SYL in Dhagaxtuur. As a member of a senior and more respected age-group, he was very influential behind the scenes by establishing contacts and by promoting various political activities. The 'youngsters' of the SYL were good for programmes and proclamations, while he, as the leading elder, could see to their implementation. Having financial means at his disposal, he was unrestricted by group considerations, and he was free to launch activities which he himself considered urgent. These undertakings for the general benefit earned him great respect among the people of Mogadishu and many others.

 

[Som]

Isn't the Somali educational system just an extension of Italy's?

It depends. After independence there was Italian, Arabic, English and Somali language schools. Our education system before the war was a mixture of all the above-mentioned systems

 

[𐒁𐒚𐒒𐒂𐒘𐒂𐒗 𐒎𐒚𐒗𐒗𐒒]

It depends. After independence there was Italian, Arabic, English and Somali language schools. Our education system before the war was a mixture of all the above-mentioned systems

Haji Dirie made sure the curriculum was different than was being taught in Colonial Schools and was based on 5 books, Islamic, Arithmetic etc.

In 1932 Haji Dirie employed him as a teacher and offered him a monthly salary (Ali 2005:161 has 1938). He also provided a modest building for the school in Iskuraran, and a lodging for Muallim Jaama'a in the same quarter. Haji Dire himself organized the fabrication of the benches and provided the slates and other necessary materials. Ali Kar bought the books (Abdallah Farah). It was a modern type of teaching in Arabic, quite different from the traditional Quranic teaching (dugsi). The curriculum was that of Aden, based on five books, including Hidayat al-Islam and a book for arithmetic. The parents contributed to the upkeep of the school and later on probably also provided the salary of the teacher. Open-minded Somalis, including those from other regions, sent their children to the school for modern education (Ali 2005:161).

 

[Som]

Haji Dirie made sure the curriculum was different than was being taught in Colonial Schools and was based on 5 books, Islamic, Arithmetic etc.

Is this system still in use in some schools back home? Cause it seems the private English language schools are based on western anglo Saxon systems

 

[𐒁𐒚𐒒𐒂𐒘𐒂𐒗 𐒎𐒚𐒗𐒗𐒒]

Is this system still in use in some schools back home? Cause it seems the private English language schools are based on western anglo Saxon systems

No idea? But I did find mention of a school named after Macalin Jaamac Bilaal in Mogadishu.

I wonder why Somalis are allergic to recording important history properly, smh.

 

[𐒁𐒚𐒒𐒂𐒘𐒂𐒗 𐒎𐒚𐒗𐒗𐒒]

I also wonder what the native school systems were like before the Colonial Vultures descended. Because Macalin Jaamac Bilaal himself used to work for the Majeerteen Kingdom as the Secretary of Boqor Osman.

 

[Som]

I also wonder what the native school systems were like before the Colonial Vultures descended. Because Macalin Jaamac Bilaal himself used to work for the Majeerteen Kingdom as the Secretary of Boqor Osman.

If the MJ kingdom survived or at least managed to stay around during colonization (kinda like Arab monarchies did) we would probably have stronger institutions including educational ones. I'm pretty sure this system would have easily spread all over Somalia if it wasn't for colonization

 

[𐒁𐒚𐒒𐒂𐒘𐒂𐒗 𐒎𐒚𐒗𐒗𐒒]

If the MJ kingdom survived or at least managed to stay around during colonization (kinda like Arab monarchies did) we would probably have stronger institutions including educational ones. I'm pretty sure this system would have easily spread all over Somalia if it wasn't for colonization

Certainly, any Native Monarchy/Sultanate would have done more for Native education and advancement than a foreign entity. We should all be grateful for all the Somali educators and businessmen who managed to circumvent Colonial traps.

There were plenty of Somali intellectuals before and during Colonialism, but we don't hear much about them or how they were educated?

I found this;

In pre-colonial traditional Somalia, education was dispensed through informal systems of communal interaction. With the arrival of colonialism in the mid-late 19th century, formal programmes of learning were slowly but steadily established.

 

[Som]

Certainly, any Native Monarchy/Sultanate would have done more for Native education and advancement than a foreign entity. We should all be grateful for all the Somali educators and businessmen who managed to circumvent Colonial traps.

There were plenty of Somali intellectuals before and during Colonialism, but we don't hear much about them or how they were educated?

I found this;

Somalis are very good we memorizing quran, even Arabs recognize this . I saw a video on YouTube of this Arab Sheikh saying how much he was impressed at the level of knowledge of the Quran of somalis. I think we can apply the traditional method of memorizing the Quran and other religious studies to secular studies as well. Memorizing stuff is pretty useful especially in elementary and middle school

 

[Zapfox1]

Mashallah. Four things I absolutely advocate for that should be pressurised in somali society. Education, healthcare , employment opportunities and for Islam’s teachings to be truly taught on how the prophet told us to act both within and to others.that al shabaab ideology bullshit has to be wiped out as it diluted our lands for many years.

 

[𐒁𐒚𐒒𐒂𐒘𐒂𐒗 𐒎𐒚𐒗𐒗𐒒]

The first school he opened is still functioning:

https://www.schoolandcollegelistings.com/SO/Mogadishu/110989811377232/Mo%27alim-jama--primary-and-secondary-school