Sudanese educators are sounding the alarm over the devastating consequences of ongoing conflict on the country’s education system, warning that prolonged school closures have led to a sharp increase in child marriages and the forced recruitment of minors into armed groups.
Speaking during an online symposium hosted by the “Women Against Injustice” campaign, teachers and activists painted a grim picture of how war is endangering the lives and futures of millions of children across Sudan. With an estimated 17 million students currently out of school, the educational crisis is spiralling into a wider social emergency.
“Many families have resorted to marrying off their underage daughters out of fear they may become victims of sexual violence,” said teacher and campaigner Khalida Saber during the event. “Some of these girls are married to soldiers in hopes of securing protection. In several instances, these marriages occur under pressure — even at gunpoint.”
Saber also warned that older male students are being increasingly targeted by armed factions for recruitment, drawn into the conflict in exchange for basic necessities or under coercion. “The disruption of education has left children vulnerable to both exploitation and violence,” she said.
Since the outbreak of fighting between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, educational infrastructure has been decimated. Over 1,000 schools have been either destroyed, turned into shelters for displaced families, or repurposed as military installations.
This widespread destruction has left countless children without access to classrooms, forcing many to flee with their families to other regions or across borders into neighbouring countries.
The impact has been equally severe on Sudan’s educators. More than half a million teachers have been displaced, with many abandoning their profession entirely due to lack of pay and security. “Over 250,000 teachers have gone unpaid for months,” Saber explained. “Some have taken low-paying, unrelated jobs just to survive. Only in a few areas, such as Northern and Red Sea states, have salary payments continued.”
Educational Divide Deepens
The ongoing war has also disrupted national academic milestones. Sami Al-Baqir, spokesperson for the Sudanese Teachers’ Committee, expressed deep concern over the fragmented administration of secondary school certificate examinations, which were conducted only in select areas.
“This selective approach has exacerbated social divisions and denied countless students a fair chance at continuing their education,” Al-Baqir said. He accused the RSF of actively obstructing exam efforts by blocking students’ access to testing centres, describing such actions as war crimes.
He called on international bodies to mediate between the warring factions to ensure exams in 2024 are conducted peacefully and inclusively, while urging the adoption of a comprehensive post-conflict educational strategy that draws lessons from other war-affected nations.
The consequences of the conflict have spilled into neighbouring countries. Sudanese students who have fled to Uganda face significant hurdles in adapting to foreign curricula, particularly due to language barriers. “Older students are often placed in lower grades, which not only delays their academic progress but affects their mental well-being,” Saber said.
Participants at the symposium also highlighted the plight of students with disabilities, urging the education ministry to invest in accessible facilities and technology, especially for deaf and blind learners. Calls were made for inclusive policies and stronger partnerships with local and international organisations to ensure no child is left behind.
As the war continues to dismantle Sudan’s vital institutions, educators and advocates are warning of long-term consequences if urgent action is not taken. The continued absence of a functioning education system, they argue, risks creating a lost generation and fuelling the rise of new armed groups.
“The government must prioritise paying teachers and reopening schools,” Al-Baqir said. “The alternative is a future shaped by militancy, trauma, and hopelessness.”
