‘Impossible’ to reopen South Darfur schools, Sudanese teachers say

The Sudan Teachers’ Committee in South Darfur dismissed the decision made by the state Minister of Education to open schools next week, describing it as “lacking realism”.

In a statement yesterday, the committee asserted that it will be “impossible” to implement the ministry’s decision to reopen schools next week, saying it failed to consider “the circumstances of the displaced sheltering in the school, people affected by the ongoing conflict, and the deteriorating work environment for educators”.

They urged the South Darfur Ministry of Education to reconsider the decision and to “actively work with the Ministry of Finance to address the issue of unpaid salaries for education workers for the past year”. The teachers further called for the settlement of outstanding arrears from the past two years.

Teachers’ Committee chairperson Hashim Zakaria told Radio Dabanga that the decision “disregarded the fundamental rights of teachers to fair compensation for their work, especially given the dire circumstances brought on by the war, and the inadequate work environment”. The teachers were neither consulted nor engaged in the decision-making process, he added.

Divided

With an estimated 19 million children out of school in the war zones according to UNICEF, and many schools in safe areas having been turned into temporary shelters, Sudan’s education sector is still divided over the decision to resume studies.

In early October 2023, Osman Hussein, acting Minister of Cabinet Affairs in charge of carrying out the duties of the Prime Minister, announced the start of the 2023-2024 school year for schools “in safe areas” no later than the end of that month.

Universities and colleges were set to resume their studies in mid-October, as per the direction of the acting Minister of Higher Education, Mohamed Dahab.

Radio Dabanga reported on January 3 that schools in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, reopened for the new year.