The education sector in Sudan is facing the danger of losing an entire generation of students, turning them into a sector of dropouts haunted by the specter of illiteracy. This is due to the destruction of many schools, the seizure of schools by rebel forces and their conversion into military barracks, as well as the fleeing of teachers from the horrors of war in search of livelihoods to support their families. A significant number of teachers have also been killed by rebel forces. This sector is experiencing an unprecedented crisis since Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo "Hemetti" declared rebellion against the army on April 15, 2023.
The war has led to a complete disruption of the educational process in many areas, causing millions of children to be displaced and turning many schools into shelters for the displaced.
The Sudanese Teachers Committee has confirmed that most public education institutions in conflict-affected areas are not ready to receive students due to their destruction by shelling or their use as platforms for war or military barracks.
UNICEF: Sudan on the Brink of Becoming Home to the World's Worst Education Crisis
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned that the collapse of the educational system in Sudan constitutes a disaster for an entire generation. The escalation of violence and insecurity in many areas has led to the closure of more than 10,000 schools. The organization estimates that 18 million children have been out of school during the war in Sudan, and as the conflict enters its second year, this figure is expected to reach between 19 and 21 million children due to some ages reaching school age.
Mandeep O'Brien, UNICEF's representative in Sudan, explained that Sudan is on the verge of becoming home to the world's worst educational crisis. She added that children have experienced the horrors of war, and now, having been forced to leave their classrooms, teachers, and friends, they are at risk of falling into a void that threatens the future of an entire generation.
Abdelkader Abdullah, Secretary-General of the National Council for Childhood, explained that the armed conflict has forced 3 million school-age children to flee from the Darfur region, while 2.5 million other children have been displaced from Khartoum state, and 1.2 million children from the Kordofan region. This mass displacement has exacerbated the educational crisis, depriving many children of the opportunity to continue their education.
Sudanese Set Up Alternative Schools and Institutes in Homes and Mosques as Safe Educational Experiments
The closure of schools has led to new problems in Sudanese society. The rate of marriage among girls who dropped out of secondary and preparatory stages has increased, especially after two cohorts of secondary certificate students accumulated due to the impossibility of conducting exams last year. This has also pushed male students into the labor market in search of money to meet their needs and the needs of their families. These issues are compounded by chronic problems such as a lack of textbooks, insufficient schools, and teachers migrating abroad.
Poverty Haunts Education
The education system in Sudan faces enormous challenges beyond the effects of armed conflict, with poverty casting a dark shadow over children's opportunities for education. Teacher Iman Murtada, with 25 years of experience in education, points out that the fundamental reasons for school disruptions in Sudan go beyond displacement and war to include the extreme poverty many families endure. As economic conditions worsen, the idea of sending a child to school has become a luxury many parents cannot afford.
Researchers confirm that hunger resulting from armed conflict reduces communities' willingness to send their children to school, pushing them instead to the labor market to earn a living. Hungry children cannot concentrate on their studies, lack the energy needed for learning, and the situation worsens with the lack of security due to displacement and refuge, making education a secondary issue for many families.
The Sudanese Armed Forces revealed the presence of a large number of children recruited as fighters by the Rapid Support Forces in exchange for money and promises of war spoils. On several occasions, the army has presented hundreds of these children, most of whom are of secondary and university age.
Leaders of "Justice and Equality" and "Sudan Liberation Army" Set Up Schools to Educate Students in Their Homes
International organizations have warned about the recruitment of children attributed to the "Rapid Support Forces," especially with reports of children being chained to four-wheel-drive vehicles to prevent them from fleeing the fighting. Education experts view child recruitment as one of the worst factors threatening the educational process in the country, as it provides boys with money and fake heroics that appeal to them during adolescence.
Crisis Challenge
Sudanese people have been establishing alternative schools in homes and mosques as safe educational experiments, and this initiative has met with reasonable success in secure states. Many retirees have volunteered to manage these schools and take on the roles of teachers, who are in short supply in the states due to many fleeing to neighboring countries, being killed by the Rapid Support Forces, or even joining the combat operations
Leaders from the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Army have adopted the establishment of schools and institutes to educate students in their homes. The Sudanese curriculum is taught along with memorization of parts of the Quran and some general information on how to avoid conflict zones and maintain personal safety.
These home schools have gained widespread recognition in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, which has received a significant influx of African tribes from the other four Darfur states now controlled by the Rapid Support Forces. One of the most successful examples of home schools is the "Mashaal" schools, which are increasingly popular among students.
UNICEF Established 1,000 Safe Learning Spaces and Enrolled 941,000 Children in Education
Among the grassroots initiatives addressing the education crisis is the "People’s Teacher" initiative, which has branches in the city of Damazin, the capital of Blue Nile State. The initiative has successfully established three centers in the city, accommodating over 400 students of basic education age, focusing primarily on receiving students displaced from other states.
UNICEF reported that it has successfully created 1,000 safe learning spaces and enrolled 941,000 children in education. In a serious attempt to reach children in conflict areas, the organization has provided a digital platform designed to meet the needs of conflict-affected children. This platform is free and provides access to the Sudanese curriculum. To address the issue of disrupted communications, the organization has also provided comprehensive educational programs that are updated every two months without requiring internet access.
Nevertheless, the devastating effects of war on the educational process in Sudan, affecting students both internally and externally, can only be mitigated by ending the conflict, halting the war, and starting an extensive process of rebuilding the educational system, including schools, textbooks, and teachers.
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