Policy Research Reports
The Pitfalls of the Education System in Sudan: The Challenges of Transition, Transformation, Inclusivity and Future of Work
No.
PRR 42
Publisher
ERF
Date
September, 2022
Topic
I. Health, Education, and Welfare
Inspired by popular protests that swept the kleptocratic regime of Omar al-Bashir from power, drawings and reflecting on the revolution’s slogans for “freedom, justice, and peace”, to translate the revolution logos toward an education that meets Sudan’s education development agenda. The transition has offered a rare window of opportunity for wider policy reforms. The paper, therefore, analyses major themes such as the nexus between education equity and catch-up, technology as an enabler for inclusivity, the future of work and the current education system in Sudan, and the practice of freedom, inclusivity, and transformation of the society through examining the current challenges to building a sound education system in the country that responds to the present and future economic- namely future of work. The analysis advocates for use of technology in education as an enabler and transformer for catching up. Three perspectives are brought to the limelight in this policy brief: First, building an inclusive society through an advanced education system to overcome the current obstacles and spur inclusive knowledge-based growth. Second, the danger of education in widening inequality, disparities in the country, and instability. The third deals with debating the education system and the biggest challenges facing the higher education model – and what to do about them to meet the future of work, societal and global transformation at the edge of technology and automation. The aim of the paper is to present ideas and conversations in education on the top policy agenda to the Transitional Government of Sudan with respect to challenges facing Sudan’s education system. Current challenges including COVID-19 hold great opportunities for this transformational process and do things differently in guiding the transformation of the education sector. Reframes the policy debates in Sudan with respect to education as transformation for both employment, employability and economic growth requires deep thinking and leadership with a vision to take the education sector to a new level. The mismatch between education and future work is likely to create an inverse relationship between years of schooling and the possibility of finding a job. Among the key policy recommendations, education models in Sudan need to reflect the demand for lifelong learning to cope and catch up with the technological and social changes brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The education system in Sudan falls short and is a reflection of consistent policymaker’s aspirations and leadership failure to develop an education system that meets not only the aspiration of the young generation but also as a precondition to transforming the Sudanese economy to another level. The German vocational skills model offers great opportunity, particularly for lost talents in conflict zones and beyond. The negative perception and stigma with respect to vocational education in Sudan as “education for dropouts” must change. Other policy recommendations and lessons from reviewed literature suggest that Sudan still has an opportunity to leap development steps in the age of technology and automation.
Speakers
Saif El Din Abd El Rahman
Resilience Advisor, UNDP Resilience Hub, Nairobi