No school textbooks in three Darfur states

The Sudanese Minister of Education has acknowledged that secondary school textbooks have not been distributed to South, West, and East Darfur.
Education Minister Souad Abdelrazek said in a press statement on Thursday that “zero textbooks have been distributed in South, East, and West Darfur”. She stressed that textbooks form “a fundamental pillar in the educational process”. The books will be sent “as soon as possible”.
The school year started in mid-July this year.

The Sudanese Minister of Education has acknowledged that secondary school textbooks have not been distributed to South, West, and East Darfur.

Education Minister Souad Abdelrazek said in a press statement on Thursday that “zero textbooks have been distributed in South, East, and West Darfur”. She stressed that textbooks form “a fundamental pillar in the educational process”. The books will be sent “as soon as possible”.

The school year started in mid-July this year.

According to the Minister, the number of illiterate adults in Sudan amounts to more than 9 million.

She further announced that the current system of an extended basic school system of eight years, and three years secondary school will be replaced next year with the “former school system”: six years primary education, three years middle school, and three years secondary school.

The head of the Teachers' Union pointed to a basic school in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, where two state appointed teachers are teaching 1,600 students.

The current population of Sudan passed 41 million, according to the latest UN estimates.