Because of war, Sudanese children have lost hundreds of schooling days , INGO says
Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - Millions of children in Sudan have missed nearly 500 days of learning since the war started in April 2023 in what has become one of the world’s longest school closures, surpassing the worst shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, Save the Children said on Thursday
A report by the international organization said the new analysis on the scale of the emergency crisis in Sudan comes ahead of the 8th International Day of Education, that was set up to mark the role education plays in peace, development and breaking the cycle of poverty.
The release pinpointed that across Sudan more than 8 million children – nearly half of Sudan’s 17 million school-aged children - have spent about 484 days without entering a classroom. This is 10% longer than the approximate 440 classroom days lost to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines which was the last country to resume regular face-to-face schooling after COVID. Few modern conflicts have closed schools this long.
It argued that unlike during the pandemic, remote learning is not an option for most children in Sudan where more than 1,000 days of fighting have disrupted education across the country, shattered families, and destroyed communities.
The report indicated that Sudan was now facing one of the worst education crises in the world with many schools closed while others have been damaged in the conflict or are being used as shelters for displaced families, leaving children without safe places to learn and millions of children increasingly unlikely to ever complete their studies.
North Darfur state, where conflict is ongoing, is the most affected region with only 3% of over 1,100 schools open. West Kordofan, South Darfur and West Darfur are next in terms of the least number of schools operating at 15%, 13% and 27% respectively, according to data from Sudan’s education cluster due to be released this week.
Additionally, it revealed, many teachers have not received salaries for months, severely affecting morale and forcing some to abandon their jobs. Without immediate funding to pay and train teachers, restore learning spaces, and provide essential learning supplies, the education system risks total breakdown, Save the Children warned.
Education in crisis settings is lifesaving, it protects children from violence, sexual and gender-based abuse, exploitation, and recruitment into armed groups.
Save the Children International CEO Inger Ashing travelled through Sudan this month, visiting schools and learning centres in Port Sudan, River Nile and Khartoum. She said children who have fled unimaginable violence in Sudan deserve more than just safety - they deserve the chance to learn, to hope, and to rebuild their lives.
“Education is not a luxury for children; it is a lifeline that protects children from exploitation, early marriage, and recruitment into armed groups. It provides safety, stability, and hope for the future,” Ashing said, adding: “:Everywhere I went during my visit, I heard the same message from children: they want to be in school – safe, supported, and learning."
The Save the Children official stressed: “We urgently need more funds to restore and expand safe and quality educational services, rehabilitate damaged schools, and provide teachers with fair working conditions.
"If we fail to invest in education today, we risk condemning an entire generation to a future defined by conflict rather than by opportunity.”
-0-PANA MO/RA 22Jan2026.
