SummerRain, are there available statistics on Somalis and education in your part of the world? In Sweden, there were several studies conducted on the education levels of Somalis (first generation); In the 1990s-2000, the share of somalis with post secondary education was higher than that of most immigrant groups (higher than other Africans, Latin Americans and the Middle east). Last year, there was a debate in Sweden when many politicians and academics claimed that most somalis were Illiterates; there is a small rustbelt town (pop 40 000) home to c:a 4 000 SOmalis where the discourse centred on how illiterate somalis were and how illiteracy is making it difficult for them to integrate; A non somali reseacher at a local university undertook to investigate; his findings were the opposite; illiteracy levels were lower among somalis compared to other groups.
That is on education; when it comes to unemployment; the employment rate is low;the situation is dire; welfare benefits is the main source of income:
We could discern one contributing factor; welfare provisions - put in place to enhance equity- is a better payoff than paying jobs. But, this has nothing to do with somalis. It applies to everyone.
Somali migration to United States itself hasn't been studied/explored in depth, let alone education specific research. It urgently needs addressed though.
The Swedes have particular fascination with Somalis. Here is an article on Swedish delegates who made their way to Minnesota couple of years ago and were impressed

I'm curious what is fueling the interest?
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2012/ ... businesses
I'm not surprised that illiteracy was labeled on them. It happens here as well, and it frustrates me that experienced psychosocial professionals can't distinguish between illiteracy and language barriers often or simply understanding the process of acculturation that they expect to take place over night. In the case of my people, it might never happens lol...at best they become bicultural, bringing it's own set of issues.