Approximately 19 million children in Sudan, which is 1 in 3 children, are still out of school as the brutal conflict in the country approaches its sixth month. This was reported by UNICEF and Save the Children in a statement released today.
Among the 19 million, around 6.5 million children have lost the opportunity to access school due to the increasing violence and lack of security in their areas, where about 10,400 schools in conflict-affected areas have closed their doors.
At the same time, more than 5.5 million children residing in less conflict-affected areas are awaiting confirmation from local authorities on whether it’s possible to reopen classrooms.
Even before the outbreak of the conflict in April, nearly 7 million children were out of school.
The worst educational crisis in the world
The two organizations warned that children in Sudan will not be able to return to school in the coming months if the war continues, exposing them to immediate and long-term risks, including displacement, recruitment by armed groups, and sexual violence.
UNICEF’s representative in Sudan, Mandeep O’Brien, warned that “Sudan is on the verge of becoming home to the worst educational crisis in the world.”
She added, “Children have been enduring the horrors of war for almost half a year. Now, after being forced to stay away from their classrooms, teachers, and friends, they are at risk of falling into a void that threatens the future of an entire generation.”
In addition to reading, writing, and mathematics, children also learn social and emotional skills in school, which can become crucial during times of conflict as a way to cope with violence, loss, and trauma.
Decrease in education spending
The two agencies stated that spending on social services has sharply declined, with teachers in almost all states losing their salaries since the start of the armed conflict.
There is a shortage of educational supplies and educational facilities have not been maintained. Despite ongoing efforts in a few areas to ensure the effectiveness of education systems in Sudan, there are significant constraints, and the needs quickly exceed the resources, according to the statement.
In addition to the direct impact and the risk of almost all Sudanese children stopping education, a recent UNICEF study showed that income loss, if not urgently addressed, would lead to a lifetime loss of $26 billion for the generation of children affected by the war.
The two organizations also urged the international community to stand in solidarity with Sudanese children whose education is at stake, providing resources and support to ensure the return of millions of Sudanese children to school and guaranteeing that children affected by the conflict have the opportunity for access to learning and psychosocial and social support in safe places.