The ongoing war in Sudan has left over 8 million children out of school, according to data monitored by global humanitarian agencies tracking the country’s deepening crisis. Nearly three-quarters of all schools across the nation have been directly impacted, damaged, or repurposed since the conflict erupted in April 2023.
Infrastructure Collapse and Displaced Populations
The widespread disruption to Sudan’s educational system stems from intense fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). School buildings frequently face occupation by armed actors, conversion into emergency shelters for displaced families, or structural destruction from shelling and airstrikes. With millions of families forced to flee their homes multiple times, traditional classroom learning has ground to a complete halt in major conflict zones including Khartoum, Darfur, and Kordofan.
Humanitarian organizations operating in the region note that the loss of schooling exposes children to heightened risks of forced recruitment, child labor, and gender-based violence. Temporary learning spaces remain severely underfunded, leaving communities struggling to establish alternative education methods amid ongoing insecurity and displacement.
Regional Disparities and Institutional Response
While some local authorities in safer states have attempted to reopen educational facilities, capacity remains critically low. Overcrowding, lack of teaching materials, and unpaid salaries for educators hinder the resumption of formal classes. International partners and United Nations agencies continue to call for unhindered humanitarian access and the immediate demilitarization of educational infrastructure.
Diplomatic efforts led by regional and international bodies remain stalled on a comprehensive ceasefire that would allow for large-scale rehabilitation of essential public services. Representatives from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union are scheduled to review the humanitarian impact on civilians at the next regional summit, though no formal timeline for reopening schools has been established.
