HURIYO MUHUDIN, MADINA HUSSEIN, AND FADUMO IBRAHIM

Culture Exchange Somalia

Objectives

Learn about the school and home culture of Somalia

Discuss the experience of families living in the US as immigrants

Discuss what we can do to better serve our EL and NELB Families.

Geography and Population

• Population of 10 million (many more Somalis in surrounding countries)

• Bordered by Ethiopia and Kenya

Current Situation

Since the Civil War began in the late 80’s and early 90’s, there has been very little infrastructure in Somalia.

Right now there is no highway system, no public schools, etc…

A new Government is trying to improve the conditions in the country, but it is a huge struggle

Basic Information

Northern Somalia was originally colonized by the British. It is largely desert, and is slightly more developed and has an economy based on business.

Southern Somalia was originally colonized by Italy. It is less developed and is based more on agriculture.

Mogadishu

Family Structure

Family is very important, and extended families stick together. They live very close to each other, and often in the same home.

Once women are married, they usually move out to start their own home, but men stay in the family home even after marriage.

In most situations, the men work and the women raise the children and take care of the home. In wealthier families, the women may work and the family will hire a nanny/maid, or rely on family members to help with the children.

General School Information

Attendance is not mandatoryOnly big cities had public schools (now there

are no public schools)Six hours a day (7 AM – 1 PM)No KindergartenStudents sometimes start at different ages,

but they always start as 1st graders 40 students in one class Structured as Elementary, Middle, and High

School (4 years each)

General School Information

No transportationNo school lunch, but you can buy snacksNo libraries in schools, but the cities have public

librariesThey give you textbooks, but they stay at schoolVery teacher centered—all direct instructionStudents stay in their own class, and the teacher

rotates to the different classesResponsibility of the school to discipline the child.No homework is ever given in Somalia.Only involved in school when situations are very

serious.

MNPS Students

Very few (approximately 5%-10%) of the students we serve have ever lived in Somalia.

Approximately 50% were born in the U.S.Other students lived in Refugee camps and

cities (in a few cases) in either Kenya or Ethiopia.

Dadaab Refugee Camp

Special Education/Student Services

Any student with any type of special need or learning delay does not attend school

Report cards issued twice a yearStudents are retained if they fail a class—it

doesn’t matter how old they are.

Bantu Somalis

Bantu tribe is from the South, and has a history of being an overlooked ethnic minority.

There are many Bantu Somalis who live in Nashville and whose children attend MNPS schools.

There are differences in how these families approach school and culture.

Cultural Differences

Communication

Exchange of money (both here and to Somalia)

Quick Language Lesson

Hello A salam alaikum

How are you? Saay ta hi

Good Ve ahn

My name is ___________ Maga iego ___________

Thank you Mahad sanid

Welcome So da who

Nice to meet Bara show wan axint