Orbits: Technical, Vocational Education and Training: A Historic Initiative in Blue Nile and Ambitious Discourse in River Nile

By: Muawad Mustafa Rashid

A Glimmer of Hope from Blue Nile

In an unprecedented move in Sudan’s history, the Governor of Blue Nile State, Major General Ahmed Al-Omda, along with the state’s Security Committee, made a symbolic and powerful visit. They went to the home of student Ashraf Babiker, who ranked first in vocational education nationwide. This was not merely a congratulatory visit; it was a national statement. Governor Al-Omda honored Ashraf, provided financial motivation, and committed to covering the full cost of his first academic year.

The delegation accompanying the State Governor to visit the student, which included the Minister of Education, Director-General Mr. Abdelhafeez Ahmed Ibrahim, and local activists, conveyed a clear and tangible message: Sudan’s future is built by the skilled hands of its sons. This significance was further reinforced when the Vice-Chancellor of Blue Nile University, Professor Omar Hassan Hussein, and his deputy, Dr. Saleh Jawame, visited the Advanced Vocational Institute and granted the outstanding student a full scholarship.

This historic initiative, the first of its kind by a state governor, strikes directly at the deep-rooted social stigma that has long plagued technical and vocational education in Sudan. Students pursuing diplomas and vocational certificates have been unfairly labeled as “societal failures,” with their ambitions stifled by a culture that prioritizes academic bachelor’s degrees above all else. The Governor’s visit represents a practical and powerful reformulation of this stereotype, serving as a beacon of hope for change starting from Blue Nile State.

From Eloquent Discourse in River Nile to a National Blueprint

This unprecedented action in Blue Nile stands in stark contrast to the convening of the First Forum for Vocational Training and Industrial Apprenticeship in River Nile State. That event was significant, marked by eloquent speeches and ambitious statements. The Acting Wali, Dr. Mohamed El-Badawi Abdel-Majeed Aboqouron, rightly emphasized the crucial role of vocational training in enhancing production and increasing income. This high-level recognition is a positive step.

However, we at The Citizen must call for realistic reflection. Forums must not become ceremonial gatherings whose recommendations are filed away and forgotten. Vocational education and training have transcended being mere policy options; they have become fundamental citizen needs. The “government of hope” at the national level now faces the critical test of translating the promising words from Al-Damar – and the inspiring action from Blue Nile – into tangible reality across the nation.

The ambitions announced in River Nile State are commendable: a vocational training center in every administrative unit and meeting the skilled labor needs of over three hundred factories. But to bridge the gap between ambition and achievement, the government must adopt comprehensive, ready-made plans. This dialogue is not new. Our newspaper, in Issue 59, published a powerful distress call – “A Cry for Urgent Rescue…” by Engineer Abdelrahman Mohamed Zain. He did not just lament the crisis; he presented a strategic plan for action.

His proposal, which precisely links the role of the Sudanese Engineering Council to a comprehensive restructuring of the labor market, is the missing link. The Council must be empowered to become the regulatory backbone of reform through:

1. Establishing a National Qualifications Framework (NQF): Creating a unified system that gives equal value to vocational certificates, academic qualifications, and outcomes of modern Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs.

2. Implementing Accreditation and Quality Assurance: Stopping the flood of substandard certificates through training center accreditation.

3. Executing Tiered Licensing: Establishing a professional registry and clear career path for engineers and technicians.

This structure integrates with other pillars: using UNESCO’s Sudan TVET Project to modernize curricula, leveraging the International Labour Organization (ILO) for funding and graduate employment, and reviving Sudan’s proud City & Guilds legacy.

The Time for Action Has Come

The Governor of Blue Nile has demonstrated what political will looks like in practice. The forum in River Nile State has outlined what strategic planning looks like on paper. We now have both an operational model and an expansion plan.

The question we pose to the Government of Hope is: How far are you willing to go to achieve this change?

We are tired of conferences and speeches. We want a clear national action plan, a dedicated budget, and a specific timeline. We want to see more students like Ashraf Babiker being honored, more training centers opening, and more factories finding the skilled workforce they desperately need.

The time has come to move from the phase of “sweet words” to the phase of “how do we do it?” The future will not wait, and the hope of the youth, ignited by the actions in Blue Nile, must not be extinguished by inaction elsewhere. Let us be the generation that transforms crisis into opportunity and words into action. The time for hope is over; the time for action is now.

“And as the dust of war settles, a message rises from Sudan’s professionals — engineers, builders, and thinkers who still believe that the tools of creation are stronger than the weapons of destruction.”

Policy Brief: Responding to the Growing Social Demand for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Sudan

1. Sudan is witnessing a growing social demand for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as economic transitions, high unemployment among academic graduates, and urgent reconstruction needs to reshape the national landscape.

This presents a strategic opportunity to rebuild the national economy and achieve sustainable development , provided that urgent institutional and technical measures are taken to strengthen the TVET system.

2. Existing Challenges

1. Fragmented institutional oversight among multiple ministries.

2. Weak funding and outdated facilities.

3. Shortage of qualified instructors and technicians.

4. Limited linkage with labor market needs.

5. Negative societal perception of vocational education.

6. Absence of a unified National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

3. Opportunities for Growth

1. Increasing demand from youth for practical education.

2. Reconstruction and local development opportunities require skilled labor.

3. Regional and global labor markets open to Sudanese skilled workers.

4. Willingness of private and international sectors to support local production.

4. Policy Directions

a. Institutional Reform

Establish a unified federal authority for TVET.

Develop a five-year national strategy based on labor market needs.

Adopt the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

b. Expansion and Funding

Open new centers in high-population areas.

Allocate a fixed share of the national budget to TVET.

Promote Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for training and equipment.

c. Curriculum and Staff Development

Update curricula with modern technologies.

Implement national trainer-development programs with global partners.

Introduce short-term (6–12 month) vocational training courses.

d. Image Enhancement

Launch a national campaign to highlight the dignity of skilled work.

Showcase successful stories of TVET graduates.

e. Market Linkage and Entrepreneurship

Establish sectoral councils (Agriculture, Construction, Energy, Industry).

Support Work-Based Learning programs.

Provide microfinance for TVET graduates’ start-ups.

5. Final Recommendations

1. Create a unified national TVET authority.

2. Adopt a five-year modernization plan.

3. Build partnerships with private and international actors.

4. Change social perceptions through media and education.

5. Establish a National Labor and Skills Observatory.

Collective Statement

A joint call by Sudanese professional and technical activists , for a nation rebuilt through skill, knowledge, and integrity.