November 02, 2024
For Immediate Release
Sudan is experiencing the world’s worst education crisis, with approximately 19 million children—nearly half of the country’s young population—currently out of school. Due to protracted and escalating armed conflicts, particularly in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile, over 90% of Sudan’s nearly 28,000 schools are now closed or rendered inaccessible. This situation leaves a devastating gap in educational access, with a generation of children facing the bleak reality of lost potential, interrupted learning, and few pathways for future opportunity.
The recent armed conflicts have caused the forced displacement of more than 24 million people, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and stretching resources beyond their limits. Educational facilities have been ravaged, classrooms have been converted to shelters, and basic infrastructure that could support remote learning options is virtually non-existent. Many teachers have been displaced or left without the means to work, and families now struggle to prioritize education amidst overwhelming survival priority needs.
Beyond the immediate impact on individual children and families, Sudan’s education crisis poses long-term risks to the country’s human capital and economic stability. Without swift action to restore learning opportunities, Sudan faces the possibility of an entire generation growing up without foundational literacy, numeracy, or critical skills for employment, community leadership, and resilience. The impact on women and girls, who are at heightened risk of gender-based violence and early marriage due to prolonged school closures, is particularly alarming, as it further entrenches cycles of poverty and gender inequality.
Education in Crisis (EiC) is committed to ensuring that Sudanese children receive crisis-responsive educational support that meets both their immediate and long-term needs. Through partnerships with local organizations, local entities, and international allies, EiC is working to implement solutions that prioritize:
• Establishing secure spaces and using mobile classrooms to reach displaced children where they are, even in challenging conflict-affected areas.
• Providing accelerated learning for overage children who have missed years of schooling, and offering alternative pathways to reintegrate students into the education system.
• Equipping educators with the skills and resources they need to provide trauma-informed and inclusive education, and working with local communities to foster support and ownership over education initiatives.
• Advocating for increased funding and international support to rebuild and reimagine Sudan’s education system, focusing on resilience and adaptability to withstand ongoing disruptions.
To achieve these goals, coordinated global and regional support is urgently needed. This crisis represents not only an educational emergency but a critical juncture in Sudan’s development path. Investing in education amid the crisis is a necessary step to prevent the long-term erosion of Sudan’s human capital and to build a future where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to rebuilding their nation.
Together, we must act swiftly and decisively to bridge the growing education gap and protect the futures of Sudan’s children. Every moment lost is a setback for Sudan’s next generation, and every effort to support education is a lifeline toward hope, resilience, and recovery.
For further information or to support our efforts, please contact:
Email: media@eduincrisis.org
For irregularities: report@eduincrisis.org
Education in Crisis
Tel: +256 703 287698
