Faiso Ahmed Khalid, 20, sat her high school diploma exams at Gambool school in Garowe, in Somalia’s Puntland state, just five days after delivering her first baby by cesarean surgery.

“I was worried that I would give birth on the same day of the exams, so I was happy when the exam period was postponed, and that is when I decided I would not miss it for anything!” Faiso told Radio Ergo.

Faiso is grateful to the examination board for allowing her to take the exams at home with an assigned invigilator. She had been worried that she would miss the exams and fall behind a year.

Safiyo Abdullahi Ali, the invigilator sent to Faiso’s home, told Radio Ergo that she allowed Faiso the flexibility she needed.

“She needed to breastfeed the baby, use the bathroom, take a rest, and I allowed her to do all that while following the exam rules,” said Safiyo.

Faiso was married when she was in grade 11. She does not see marriage as a barrier to her education.

“Having a family is not an impediment if you’re serious about your education,” she said. “I intend to continue my education, up to the PhD level.”

The Puntland Ministry of Education has a file of students with special needs and staff were prepared to help in Faiso’s case.

Around 16,000 students in Puntland sat this year’s intermediate and high school diploma examinations.

“The ministry has made it easier for all students to continue their education regardless of the circumstances they may face, including the Coronavirus,” Safiyo said.

For the past two months, as school closed for the pandemic, students in Puntland have been accessing lessons on local media and via the internet to prepare for their exams.

Source: Radio Ergo