Eight Million Children Out of School in Sudan as Teachers Warn of Education Crisis
At least eight million school-age children are out of school in Sudan, as the country’s prolonged conflict, economic hardship and deteriorating school conditions threaten the future of education, according to the Sudanese Teachers’ Committee.
The committee raised the alarm this week, warning that public education was at risk of collapse as families struggle to afford schooling and teachers face low salaries, unpaid entitlements and rising living costs.
Committee member Ammar Youssef said about eight million children were outside the education system. The group also reported declining pupil numbers, particularly in poorer and peripheral communities, where many families depend on public schools.
Teachers in Khartoum State are continuing a strike over working conditions and workers’ rights. The committee has urged educators across the country to join the action and is considering further peaceful protests, including school closures and sit-ins, if authorities fail to address its demands.
The committee is calling for education spending to rise to 20 per cent of the national budget, alongside improved wages, payment of outstanding dues and better school facilities.
Sudan’s education crisis has deepened since war erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023. Fighting and mass displacement have disrupted schooling, while some schools have been damaged, closed or converted into shelters for displaced families.
UNICEF has also reported that at least eight million school-age children are out of school, with Darfur among the worst-affected regions.
Teachers and education advocates warn that prolonged exclusion from classrooms could deepen inequality and expose children to greater risks, including exploitation, child marriage and recruitment by armed groups.
The crisis threatens not only children’s immediate access to learning but also Sudan’s long-term recovery, as a generation risks losing vital educational opportunities.
