Nearly three years of conflict in Sudan have pushed the country’s education system to the brink, leaving more than eight million children out of school for almost 500 days, according to Save the Children.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NGO said the war, which began in 2023, has resulted in one of the longest school closures in the world, exceeding even the most severe shutdowns seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“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,” Save the Children said.
The organisation noted that many schools remain shut, while others have been damaged by fighting or converted into shelters for displaced families. More than seven million people have been forced from their homes across the country. North Darfur is the worst-affected region, where only three percent of the state’s more than 1,100 schools are operational.
The crisis has also taken a toll on teachers. Save the Children said many educators are leaving their jobs due to unpaid salaries, weakening morale and disrupting learning even further.
“Without immediate funding to pay and train teachers, restore learning spaces, and provide essential learning supplies, the education system risks total breakdown,” the NGO warned.
The findings were released ahead of the 8th International Day of Education, observed on January 24th. Save the Children has been working in Sudan since 1983, supporting children and their families in health, education and livelihood.
NGO chief executive Inger Ashing said education plays a vital role in protecting children during crises. “We urgently need more funds to restore and expand educational services, rehabilitate damaged schools, and provide teachers with fair working conditions,” she said.
“We risk condemning an entire generation to a future defined by conflict,” she added.
The war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 following a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to the recent estimates, it has claimed more than 150,000 lives. International efforts to broker peace talks or establish a caretaker government have been largely unsuccessful.
According to the United Nations, an estimated 33.7 million people — nearly two-thirds of Sudan’s population are expected to require humanitarian assistance in 2026. More than 20 million people need health support, while 21 million face acute food insecurity.
The UN has repeatedly warned of a “lost generation” in Sudan. UN agencies say years of violence, limited humanitarian access and declining funding have created the world’s largest humanitarian emergency. Sudan is also experiencing the world’s biggest displacement crisis, with about 13.6 million people uprooted by the fighting.
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