West Kordofan University dismisses Darfuri students

The University of West Kordofan in En Nahud has removed 348 Darfuri students, thereby overturning an agreement of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) and the federal Ministry of Higher Education concerning the exemption of Darfur students to pay tuition and exam fees. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, one of the dismissed students said that the University’s Administration told them that they should search for other possibilities to do their exams. “All the Darfuri students have left the University after the dismissal.” The student stressed that the University Administration with this action has breached the agreement between the DRA, and the Sudanese Ministry of Higher Education, which was settled by a court, to allow Darfuri students to sit for their exams this academic year without paying fees. He noted that the Darfuri students hold the DRA and the Ministry responsible for what happened in West Kordofan. At the beginning of the academic year in January, the Darfuri students had collectively boycotted the exams at the West Kordofan University, in protest against the Administration’s refusal to admit them, as well as against violence used against them by police forces and militant student adherents of the ruling National Congress Party.   During the last months of 2013, Darfuri students throughout the Kordofan states demonstrated against unfair treatment in the universities. They protested the universities’ refusal to exempt them from tuition fees, as agreed upon in the 2011 Doha Document for Peace in Darfur. File photo: Debate on peace and development at the University of El Fasher in North Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related:Darfuri students at West Kordofan University boycott exams (20 January 2014) West Kordofan lecturer arrested because of Darfuri students (17 January 2014) Police storms West Kordofan university, injures students and lecturer (27 December 2013)