The Truth Perspective: A Nation Without Universities… Was This the Plan?
Ibrahim Shglawi
Amid the war that has swept through Sudan and deeply impacted all sectors, the Ministry of General Education has remarkably managed to overcome great challenges by organizing the Sudanese Certificate Examinations for 2023 and ensuring the 2024 exams will take place on schedule in March. This achievement places greater responsibilities on the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to rehabilitate the university system and accommodate new generations of students. Higher education now faces severe tests and even more complex circumstances.
The infrastructure of many universities, particularly in Khartoum—a key academic hub—has been severely damaged. Despite these challenges, higher education remains a cornerstone for rebuilding the educational system and laying the foundations for a better future amidst the current crisis.
Universities Under Direct Target
During the war, Sudanese universities did not escape direct assaults. Reports from local and regional media, as well as UNESCO, reveal that the Rapid Support Forces deliberately damaged educational and service facilities under their control. These attacks left academic institutions on the verge of collapse. This appears to have been part of a deliberate plan to weaken higher education. Consequently, some universities were forced to take exceptional measures, such as relocating studies abroad.
Challenges of Studying Abroad
While relocating some students to other countries has helped ensure the continuity of education, this decision imposed significant financial burdens on Sudanese families already facing severe economic pressures. The high costs of travel, living expenses, and tuition fees rendered this solution temporary and unsustainable as a long-term strategy.
The Need to Rebalance Education Distribution
Sudan has a large number of universities scattered across its states. However, Khartoum, as the country’s primary academic center, bears an undue share of the burden compared to other regions. The devastation in the capital has highlighted the urgent need to rethink the geographic distribution of educational institutions to make them more equitable and flexible.
Lessons from International Experiences
Several nations have faced similar challenges and successfully transformed them into opportunities:
Lebanon: Local universities leveraged open education and partnerships with international institutions to secure financial and technical support.
Afghanistan: Despite decades of conflict, electronic education initiatives were introduced to ensure learning continuity in rural areas.
Iraq: After widespread infrastructure destruction in 2003, Iraq rebuilt its educational system through partnerships with international organizations and academic institutions.
Rwanda: Following a devastating civil war in the 1990s, Rwanda focused on expanding higher education to rural areas, reducing dependence on the capital and achieving balanced development.
Towards a Strategic Vision for Higher Education in Sudan
Given Sudan’s current reality, short-term solutions must be integrated into a long-term strategic vision.
1. E-learning: A sustainable option to ensure continuity in education, especially under security challenges.
2. Temporary Educational Centers: Establishing centers in safe states can ease the pressure on Khartoum and support affected students.
3. Enhancing International Cooperation: Expanding partnerships with friendly and brotherly nations such as Egypt, Turkey, and Malaysia, while leveraging existing scholarship programs and joint initiatives.
4. Redistributing Higher Education: Prioritizing other states to reduce the dependency on Khartoum as the primary academic hub.
5. Supporting Families and Students: Clear and transparent policies must be implemented to alleviate financial burdens, such as regulating tuition fees and announcing them before the Sudanese Certificate results are released.
Conclusion
Despite the depth of the crisis, higher education in Sudan holds unique opportunities for rebuilding. This stage demands a comprehensive vision that balances ambition with reality while addressing the economic and social conditions of Sudanese families. Successfully aligning the rehabilitation of educational institutions with the financial capacities of students and their families could mark the beginning of a new chapter for Sudan, rebuilding its academic institutions as an essential part of its national renaissance in the aftermath of the war.
Wishing you well and in good health.
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Shglawi55@gmail.com