Policy Briefs
The Pitfalls of the Education System in Sudan: The Challenges of Transition, Transformation, Inclusivity, and Future of Work
No.
PB 101
Publisher
ERF
Date
November, 2022
Topic
I2. Education and Research Institutions
In a nutshell
- Inspired by the popular protests that swept autocrat Omar al-Bashir from power and drawing and reflecting on the revolution’s slogans of “freedom, justice, and peace” in regards to the development agenda, this paper discusses the real risk that the education system in Sudan is widening inequality, disparity, and instability in the country.
- The education system in Sudan falls short of reaching its full potential and is a reflection of policymakers’ poor foresight and failed leadership to develop an education system that not only meets the aspiration of the young generation but also serves as a precondition to transforming the Sudanese economy to the next level.
- The findings of the analysis advocate for the use of technology in education as an enabler and transformer to hasten the catching-up process. Key policy recommendations include that education models in Sudan need to reflect the demand for lifelong learning to cope and catch up with the technological and social changes brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
- Leveraging technology in the education sector is an important development for the transformation of the sector and to make sure that current and future generations are not left behind in the national efforts to build innovation capacities.
- The German vocational skills development model offers a great opportunity to change the course of higher education training as it ensures that the skills developed match those required by the labor market. It also offers an opportunity 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 as it is not in sync with the realities and needs of the 21st century.
Speakers
Saif El Din Abd El Rahman
Resilience Advisor, UNDP Resilience Hub, Nairobi