The Face of Truth: Sudanese Certificate: Dignity at the Exam Centers
Ibrahim Shaglawi
Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese people have been engaged in a fateful battle against the Rapid Support Forces militia and their local and regional supporters. This battle is not limited to the battlefield alone, but it manifests in various aspects of daily life. One of the most significant manifestations we are experiencing is the delayed Sudanese Certificate exams. At a time when the sons and daughters of Sudan head to their examination centers today, it cannot be ignored that these exams represent a significant milestone in the struggle for resilience and dignity that this noble people have been engaged in.
This year’s Sudanese Certificate exams, which were delayed due to the war conditions, represent a major challenge that requires collective efforts on all fronts. In addition to the support that citizens must provide to students in all aspects and fields, we see that at this moment, it is crucial to make this challenge a collective test of the Sudanese people’s ability to endure, unite, and overcome the bitter zero-sum political conflicts and the destruction brought about by the war.
As we continue to face these growing challenges, the Sudanese government has taken exceptional measures to ensure the safe and effective conduct of the exams. In an interview with Sudan News Agency “SUNA,” the Federal Minister of Education, Dr. Ahmed Khalifa Omar, confirmed that the Ministry had completed the necessary organizational arrangements for the Sudanese Certificate exams, which will take place on December 28, 2024, in 2,300 exam centers across the country, with 343,644 students participating. The minister also clarified that the printing of the exams was done inside Sudan, in the city of Atbara, using the latest devices, reflecting the country’s ability to overcome logistical challenges.
The minister noted in a message to both the internal and external audiences that the government had ensured complete security for the exam centers by coordinating with the security forces, particularly the police, who have accumulated experience in securing such sensitive operations. Dr. Ahmed Khalifa also expressed his gratitude to the Sovereign Council, the state governors, the teachers, students, their families, the media, and the entire Sudanese people. Additionally, the role of the Sudanese army in securing the educational process and protecting the exam centers cannot be overlooked. They have contributed significantly to stabilizing the security situation in many areas, which had a major impact in enabling students to take the exams in a secure environment. This role reflects the cohesion between the armed forces and the Sudanese people in facing the security challenges imposed by these difficult circumstances. Parents of students have also made considerable efforts to ensure the right environment for their children to continue their education. They have proven to be key partners in the struggle for resilience, as their unlimited support has been a strong motivator for students to face this challenge.
There has also been appreciated support for these exams from the international community. Many UN organizations, such as UNICEF and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, have shown great willingness to support the educational process, especially for students facing difficulties due to displacement or seeking refuge. According to the minister, he praised the role of brotherly and friendly countries in facilitating the conduct of exams on their territories, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, and several other countries where Sudanese students are present. He confirmed that this support reflects the spirit of Arab and African solidarity in times of crisis.
This moment is also an opportunity to send a message to those who conspired against our country for their own strategies or regional agendas, foremost among them the state of Chad, which disregarded the rights of neighboring countries by its blatant intervention in the war against our country and did not appreciate the sacrifices of the Sudanese for its security. History has a sharp memory, and its book is present: Chad refused to hold the Sudanese Certificate exams on its territory, offering flimsy excuses that no one believes. However, they must write this betrayal on the walls of their schools and universities, and on those walls where the scientific diplomas granted by Sudan to their students from elementary school to higher education are displayed, and they must know that Sudan will not forget those who contributed to disrupting its security and the displacement of its citizens.
Therefore, in these exceptional circumstances that our country is experiencing, ensuring the stability of the educational process remains one of the greatest priorities of the government, and the Sudanese Certificate remains a national security issue that requires our collective effort. The Sudanese Certificate exams this year, as we see from the face of truth, are not merely an academic test but a new battle in the struggle for dignity and resilience, a battle that the people have decided to fight with the same determination, pride, and dignity to prove that they are capable of preserving their dignity and affirming their independence and will. This national event is also supported by the persistence of parents to support their children in these difficult circumstances, reflecting the strength of the will of this people. Every time we succeed in overcoming these challenges, we send a strong message to the world that the Sudanese people are always capable of rising, and they will never stop striving for a better future governed by justice and the rule of law, regardless of the circumstances and challenges.
May you remain in good health and wellbeing.
Saturday, December 27, 2024
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