SIMAD Scholarship Program

Introduction

After a through screening and analysis of its eligibility SIMAD finally signed a scholarship Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

This paved the way for an access to or continuation of education for  one hundred learners despite sever financial circumstances most of the students undergo. SIMAD decided to benefit this opportunity to the institute's female students from all departments. The aim is clearly to help aspiring  female Somali students get a competitive edge in terms of access to education, thus future independence for their lives, that of their families, and the country as whole.

Based on rigid selection criteria of the institute's scholarship committee which consists of the Registration office, ODeL office, Public Relations office and Academic office, the institute finally selected 100 eligible female  students from BA, Accounting, and IT departments 

Program Objectives:

  To eliminate gender disparity in all levels of education
  To enhance the number of educated female in Somali society.
  To enhance the level of MDG achievements in Somalia
  To encourage parents to educate their girls
  To extend the opportunity that girls can attend in higher education
  To show positive attitude toward women's role in the society

This scholarship program will run from March 2008 to January 31, 2012

SIMAD used the following selection criteria to get the right candidates:

The potential candidate 
    Must have secondary leaving certificate 
   Must have computer literacy skills
   Can understand and read English
   Must sit for an admission test
   Must sign scholarship commitment agreement

Below are the terms of the agreement potential candidates should sign:
   Must be currently registered in SIMAD's academic programs
   Must pass all academic subjects and have good academic results
   Must have good conduct and character
   Regular and punctual class attendence record showing minimum of 80% attendence.
   Must demonstrate and stay committed to the completion of the program
   Must be a role model for other female students
   Participate voluntary community work during semester breaks

Expected Impact
   To improve gender impartiality and access to higher education
   To raise the awareness of women's human right issues and advocate for their inclusion in governance and economic growth
   To decrease the higher girl drop-outs in Somalia
   Education has an impact on young women's role in society by
             a) reducing poverty
             b) Improving the health of women and their children:
             c) Increasing self-confidence and decision making power in the society in general and family in special.
In Somalia educated women continue to gain in status and secure   greater decision making authority in the family 
and the wider community.
The selected 100 female students are now in their third sucessful semester with none of them backing out the promise of becoming a model for other female students of the institute.

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Testimonials of Civil Society Members in the Third Semester Ceremony (April 1, 09)

If UNDP recognized lack of equal opportunity to education among boys and girls it is a victory to the Somali community specially women. Your (female students) continuation of education and becoming a role model for other Somali women is  the only means that can lead other donors to follow the UNDP path., Mrs Nuurto Sheikh, Somali Family and Child Care Organization Chairperson.

No matter from which gender you are, I think what matters most is how effectively you (female students) materialize this joint SIMAD-UNDP scholarship. And I hope the success of this program will have a positive impact on female competitivenes in terms of equal opportunity to education and to overall participation in the country's future decision making., Dr. Mohamed Nur Ga'al, Civil Society Spokesperson.

I am really very delighted to see one hundred Somali women who are participating education program in SIMAD, and we heartfully thanks UNPD for its brave act to help alleviate the financial burden from these students. You (female studens) have to know that the time of using lack of fees as a pretext for not going to schools and universities has come to an end. Please try to educationally help your other sisters who are still financially handicapped., Mrs Maryam Daqal, Member of BOD of Coalition for Grassroots Women Organization.