Bless or curse legacy.

Bless or curse legacy; by: prof. Abdi Ali Jama.

The introduction of Somali language script in 1972 was remarkable milestone that Somali people long aspired for.  Siad Barre is said to have launched it. However, the biggest mistake he had done was introducing it so early into Education and government administration that did inordinately more harm than good.  This more than offset any credibility that Siad Barre could have been given in this account like he failed in all other fronts.

 Literacy campaign for spreading Somali language script launched by the Revolutionary government in 1970s was correct step to enable masses both rural and urban write and read their own language so that they would be good citizens. However, the biggest blunder was rendering it medium of instruction in schools while there is no Somali library as well as adopting it as sole official language in government administration.

In my opinion, Somali language should had been confined to masses so that they can read news papers in Somali script, be able to write and read mails from and to relatives, friends and government authorities. Literacy also helps people cast their votes properly in democratic elections.

As for Education, feeble minded Siad Barre single-handedly ordered to use Somali language as medium of instruction in schools. Due to this, quality of education plummeted to unprecedented level. However,  It is a bless to give Somali students the opportunity  to learn  with their own mother tongue; but that needs  planning  and introducing it gradually so that it would not compromise quality of education. You cannot do that while you know that the Somali library is void of reference books and other resources in virtually every field of knowledge unless you are irresponsible and ignorant as Siad Barre.

I, myself, as survivor of this calamity, remember that as a student back in my school days, we had one and only one hastily prepared Somali edition for each subject. I still feel the agony of how much we were deprived of taking advantage of a very big library in my secondary school that was full of Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Math books but all in English. With out exaggeration, I can say we were literally blindfolded and deafened by that brutal, ignorant dictator.

In my opinion,  it was great error committed against successive generations to Somalize education curriculum before preparing adequate material resources for Somali students so that quality of education would not be traded off to an extent that bless would turn into curse!!!

The same way, introducing of Somali language into government offices lowered efficiency of government administration, especially when Siad Barre favored compliance over competency which eroded the admin capacity of government authority. Uneducated loyal (Kacaan), but now can write and read Somali, were promoted to positions that they do not qualify for.  In other words, It happened that educated people were replaced by graduates of Somali language campaign literacy and thereby state failure had begun.

The best strategy, in my view, could have been to use Somali language scripts for mails that government usually sends to citizens. But other administrative paper work should not had been Somalized so early.

As for now, education in Somaliland is actually in English medium apart from some Arabic schools. This is a good step for reversing the process. English is widely used in government offices along with official Somali language.  This is right direction but we have not to go to the other extreme by ignoring Somali language. We have to allocate resources along with Somali speaking authorities in the region to develop scientific and admin terms as we go over time.