BURAO, Somaliland —(HornPost) Somaliland announces its 2025-26 national examination results, with more than 42,000 Grade 8 and Grade 12 students taking the exams across the country.
Somaliland on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, officially announced the results of the 2025-26 national certification examinations for Grade 8 middle school and Grade 12 secondary school students.
The results were announced at the National Examinations Office for the eastern regions in Burao, the administrative capital of Togdher region, during an official ceremony attended by senior government officials, education authorities, school administrators, teachers, academics and other guests.
Somaliland Minister of Education Prof. Ismail Duale Yusuf led the ceremony and announced the examination results.
The national examinations are a major milestone for students completing middle and secondary education in Somaliland and are used to determine progression to the next stage of education.
Grade 12 Examination Results
According to the results announced by the Ministry of Education, a total of 16,119 students sat for the Grade 12 secondary school national examination.
Of the candidates, 27 students failed the examination, while 41 students did not sit for the examination. The remaining candidates passed, according to the figures announced during the ceremony.
The results mark the completion of secondary education for thousands of students across Somaliland and open the way for successful candidates to pursue higher education, vocational training or other professional opportunities.
Grade 8 Examination Results
At the middle-school level, 26,116 students took the Grade 8 national examination.
The ministry reported that 256 students failed, while the remaining candidates passed the examination.
The results also highlighted the participation of girls in Somaliland’s education system. Approximately 11,000 of the Grade 8 candidates were girls, reflecting the growing participation of female students in formal education.
Vocational and Technical Education
The government also reported examination participation from students enrolled in vocational and technical education, with 860 students taking the relevant examinations.
The inclusion of vocational education in the national examination results reflects the government’s broader focus on technical and skills-based education as an alternative pathway for young people entering the labor market.
Officials Congratulate Students
The announcement ceremony brought together several senior government officials, including the minister of education, the minister of transport and road development, the minister of local government, the deputy minister of education, the mayor of Burao and senior officials from the education sector.
Regional education coordinators, school principals, academics and other invited guests also attended the event.
Officials delivered speeches congratulating students who successfully completed their examinations while encouraging them to continue pursuing education and professional development.
They also praised parents, teachers and school administrators for their role in supporting students throughout their education.
Somaliland President Congratulates Successful Students
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro separately congratulated students who passed the Grade 8 and Grade 12 national certification examinations.
The president praised the students for their hard work, perseverance and achievement, while also recognizing the contribution of parents and teachers who supported them throughout their studies.
President Irro also commended the Somaliland Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the National Examinations Office for their work in preparing, administering, marking and publishing the examination results.
In his message, the president urged successful students not to regard their examination results as the end of their educational journey.
Instead, he described the achievement as the beginning of a new stage requiring greater commitment, confidence, creativity and ambition.
He encouraged students to continue developing their knowledge and skills and ultimately use their education to contribute to the development of Somaliland and its people.
Education Milestone for Somaliland
The release of the 2025-26 national examination results represents an important milestone in Somaliland’s education sector, as thousands of students move from middle and secondary education toward higher education, vocational training and employment.
The results also provide an indication of the scale of student participation in Somaliland’s national education system, with more than 42,000 students taking the Grade 8 and Grade 12 examinations combined.
The government has continued to emphasize education, teacher development, examination administration and vocational training as key areas for improving opportunities for Somaliland’s growing youth population.
Prepared by
HornPost staff
info@hornpost.com
