Let N be a submodule of the module M. Suppose M/N and N are semi-simple. Does it follow that M is semi simple?

Let N be a submodule of the module M. Suppose M/N and N are semi-simple. Does it follow that M is semi simple?

I think the answer is yes but I am not sure how to prove it. Any help would be appreciated.

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No. In fact this is false even if you assume that $M/N$ and $N$ are simple, and even for a ring as well-behaved as $\mathbb{Z}$. –  Qiaochu Yuan May 15 '12 at 22:21

No. Consider the ring $R=\mathbb C[t]/(t^2)$. The regular module $M=R$ contains the submodule $N=(t)$ which is simple, and $M/N$ is also simple, yet $M$ is not semisimple.
Adding on Qiaochu's comment and trying to come up with an easier, perhaps, counter-example than that given by Mariano: the only simple $\mathbb{Z}-\,$modules (which are the same as abelian groups) are the cyclic groups of prime order, thus: take Klein's viergrup $$\,M:=C_2\times C_2\,\,,\,\,N:= \{1\}\times C_2\,\,,\,\,M/N\cong C_2$$ Both $M\,,\,M/N\,$ are even simple, as mentioned by Qiaochu
If you replace $M$ with $C_4$ and $N$ with the cyclic group of order $2$, though, then you'll be cooking with gas. –  Arturo Magidin May 16 '12 at 2:29