Omar Samater Secondary School (OSSS) was one of three high schools financed and built in Galkayo, Mogadishu (15 May Secondary School) and Hargheisa (1st July Secondary School) by the European Economic Commission (EEC) in the 1960s Opening in 1970 as a boarding education facility, Omar Samater Secondary School, was especially equipped with with state of the art complex school kitchen with food delivery conveyors and technology of food preparation and hygiene. It was the first of its kind school ever built in Somalia, if not in the entire continent of Africa. The school with modern labs, well supplied library, living quarters for both students, and highly qualified teaching staff was a wonder of Somalia. The school served to educate students from the entire Northeast Regions of Somalia, Galgadud Region, then part of Mudugh, and beyond like Hiraan Region.
From eyewitness account of a former student and graduate of Omar Samater Secondary School and former cabinet minister of Puntland State, himself hailing from Galgadud Region, Mohamed Hassan, one sad day, the Military Regime Minister of Education, Abdirisaq Mohamed Abubakar, surprisingly and suddenly came to visit the school. According to this account, also coroporated by several others, Minister Abubakar was mesmerised by the technology and equipment in operation at school, in the school kitchen, in particular. He declared: “These poor students and school don’t deserve to have such equipment. They deserve to burn charcoal and firewood here. This equipment must be removed. ” When asked where to move the equipment, he was quoted as saying ” to “Curuuba Hotel” in Mogadishu. He instructed the school staff to prepare students for military drills as well, “not indulged in luxury here.” Students and school staff were helpless to influence this madman’s arbitrary decision or have any say in the matter.
This action wasn’t only abuse of power by the Late Siyad Barre stooge and henchman but a crime against humanity.
A few weeks later, four large military trucks came to the school to ship school equipment away to Mogadishu.
The school kitchen wasn’t designed for charcoal and firewood burning. After removal of the equipment, they had to dismantle concrete walls to build new school kitchen outdoors.
That is an ugly and sad experience of a “city-state dictatorship.” This stoty should never ever repeat itself in Somalia if this country can survive at all.
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 