The ongoing Sudan war threatens the future of eight billion school-going children who are currently out of school. The United Nations raised a concern and stated that three-quarters of schools across the nation have been affected by the conflict, disrupting education on a scale that threatens to create long-term social and economic consequences.
The concern points out the education crisis as one of the most damaging consequences of Sudan’s conflict, which began in April 2023. Millions of children have been displaced by the fighting, with those forced to seek safety outside the country facing particularly severe disruption to their education.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed raised the issue during a UN Security Council meeting held under the Arria-Formula format.
The scale of the disruption extends beyond school closures. Years of conflict have damaged education infrastructure, displaced teachers and students and interrupted children’s ability to maintain regular learning. Earlier UN-backed assessments found that children in Sudan had already lost nearly 500 days of schooling since the conflict began, illustrating the cumulative impact of prolonged closures and insecurity.
The crisis also risks widening existing inequalities. Displaced children, particularly those living outside Sudan, face additional barriers to accessing classrooms and maintaining their studies. Humanitarian agencies have warned that prolonged interruptions could affect children’s future employment opportunities, social development and ability to contribute to the country’s recovery once fighting ends.
The education emergency comes as Sudan continues to face one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. The United Nations has described the conflict as an unprecedented humanitarian and protection emergency, with displacement and shortages of essential services compounding the impact on civilians.
UN agencies and education partners have stressed the importance of restoring learning opportunities while the conflict continues. Reopening schools, supporting displaced students and protecting education infrastructure will be critical to preventing the war from producing lasting damage to a generation of Sudanese children.
