Children are gradually returning to classrooms in parts of Khartoum as improved security allows some families to return to Sudan’s war-ravaged capital.
For many students, however, going back to school represents only the first step in rebuilding lives disrupted by more than three years of conflict.
Hundreds of schools across Khartoum have been damaged or destroyed during the fighting. Schools that have reopened are facing overcrowded classrooms, shortages of learning materials and a lack of qualified teachers.
Schools Struggle to Support Returning Students
Itimad Algizouli, a school principal, said enrolment remains below pre-war levels because many children are still displaced inside Sudan or living in neighbouring countries.
She said teachers were working to support students both academically and psychologically as they deal with the effects of the conflict.
The disruption has left many children with significant gaps in their education, while teachers are under pressure to help students recover lost learning in a short period.
Mohamed Elyas, a teacher, said schools and parents face the difficult task of addressing years of missed education while also dealing with damaged infrastructure and financial hardship.
He added that many students require psychological and social support to regain their confidence and interest in learning.
Financial Pressure on Families
For families returning to Khartoum after years of displacement, sending children back to school can be expensive.
Parents must cover transportation, uniforms, books and other school-related expenses at a time when many households are still struggling to rebuild their finances.
Manal Ali, a parent who experienced repeated displacement during the conflict, said her family returned to Khartoum because they wanted to give their children a better future despite the financial difficulties.
Education System Devastated by War
Sudan’s conflict began in April 2023 when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people and forced millions from their homes, creating one of the world’s largest displacement crises.
The education sector has been particularly badly affected. Nearly eight million children have been left out of school, while numerous educational facilities have been damaged, destroyed or converted into shelters for displaced people.
As authorities attempt to restart the academic year, rebuilding schools will require more than repairing buildings. Sudan will also need teachers, learning materials and sustained psychological support for children who have spent years living through war.
For families returning to Khartoum, the reopening of classrooms offers a small but significant sign of hope — and a chance for children to begin rebuilding the future they lost to conflict.
