The former SOS Sheikh Secondary School (currently known as Pharo Sheikh Secondary School) is situated near the town of Sheikh in a remote part of the country Somaliland, and a three-hour drive from the country's capital,

Hargeisa Hargeisa (; so, Hargeysa, ar, هرجيسا) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Somaliland. It is located in the Maroodi Jeex region of the Horn of Africa. It succeeded Burco as the capital of the British Somaliland Protecto ...

. The once-renowned boarding school was established in British Somaliland and at independence was considered one of the top schools in the country. It is the birth-place of Somalia's former anthem, Soomaaliyeey toosoo, which was composed by the teachers of Sheikh Secondary School. The school accepted a mere 50 students each year for the 31 years (1958–89) before it was destroyed by the Siad Barre regime, admitting 1,550 people over three decades. It was mostly destroyed in fighting in 1989, and had fallen into further disrepair during the

Somali civil war The Somali Civil War ( so, Dagaalkii Sokeeye ee Soomaaliya; ar, الحرب الأهلية الصومالية ) is an ongoing civil war that is taking place in Somalia. It grew out of resistance to the military junta which was led by Siad Ba ...

. In September 2002, Dick and Enid Eyeington moved to Somaliland to take on the restoration and running of this derelict boarding school. Following years of closure, the SOS Sheikh Secondary School reopened in January 2003 to its first 53 pupils, 45 boys and 8 girls. Another 50 pupils arrived in September 2003. The first Somali principal of the school after the British was Ghalib Musa Afi. This school is currently double curriculum, Somaliland curriculum and

IGCSE The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is an English language based examination similar to GCSE and is recognised in the United Kingdom as being equivalent to the GCSE for the purposes of recognising prior attainme ...

curriculum. Current school principal is Mr. Adam Muse who tirelessly works with the Students.

History

Sheikh School offered free tuition based on a British curriculum to the limited number of students admitted to the establishment solely on merit. As a result, the privately funded school attracted the highest male achievers in Somaliland who would go on to become the future leaders of the country. Although, a selective school that offered entry on the basis of students’ exam marks, Richard Darlington who served as headmaster (mid-1950s–1971) ensured that the student body should be inclusive of Somaliland communities (although only their male members).

Alumni

Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal ( so, Maxamed Xaaji Ibraahim Cigaal, ar, محمد الحاج ابراهيم عقال; August 15, 1928 – May 3, 2002) was a Somali politician who served as the President of Somaliland from 1993 to his death in 2002. ...

Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud "Silanyo" ( so, Axmed Maxamed Maxamuud Siilaanyo, ar, احمد محمد محمود سيلانيو) (born 1938) is a Somaliland politician who was President of Somaliland from 2010–2017. He is a long-time member of the go ...

* Abdirahman Aw Ali *

Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi ( so, Cabdiraxmaan Maxamed Cabdillaahi Cirro, ar, عبد الرحمن محمد عبد الله) (born 24 April 1955), also known as Irro, is a Somaliland politician, who served as speaker of Somaliland House of R ...

* Hussein Abdi Dualeh *

Jama Ali Korshel Jama Ali Korshel ( so, Jaamac Cali Qoorsheel, ar, جامع علي قورشيل) was a Somali army Major General and former Head of the Somali Police Force. He was the Vice President of the Supreme Revolutionary Council. Biography Korshel wa ...

* Haji Adem Harun

References

Schools in Somaliland {{Africa-school-stub

History

Alumni

See also

References