Sudan: Two River Nile schools close for lack of teachers

The parents’ councils of El Kir School and Jummeiza school in Abu Hamad locality of Sudan’s River Nile state reported that both schools have been closed indefinitely because of the resignation of four out of eight teachers.

The closure of the schools came after the state and local education department had promised to solve the problem two years ago, according to a statement issued by the Parents’ Council.

The statement pointed out that 294 students are facing an unknown fate following the resignation of the teachers. In Khartoum state, the education department of East Nile locality has closed El Gheith Basic School due to a lack of students.

Durriya Babikir, spokeswoman for the Khartoum Teachers Committee, considered the step as representing the government’s approach to privatisation and abolishing the free education guaranteed by the constitution.

She described the arguments made by the education department as weak.

In West Kordofan, basic and secondary schools are facing a severe budget deficit due to the inability of the majority of families to pay school fees because of their poverty and hardship of living.

Teachers have warned against closing schools in the event the situation continues as it is.