For months, classrooms stood empty, their chalkboards collecting dust and their benches untouched. Schools—once filled with the chatter of students—had become silent casualties of war. But this week, in a historic first for Darfur, those classrooms will finally serve their purpose again.
A new chapter for Sudan’s lost classrooms
Across six schools in Al Geneina, over 2,000 children who had been forced out of education are taking their transitional exams this month, marking a critical step toward rejoining the formal school system. For many, this is more than just a test—it is a chance to prove that their futures did not end when war began.
For Fatima Idris, teacher and mother, this moment is nothing short of remarkable. “Education had almost disappeared,” she says. “After the war, schools were burned, destroyed, and left in ruins. But today, we are seeing something we never imagined—children returning to school, taking their exams, and proving that they belong in a classroom.”
Across six schools in Al Geneina, over 2,000 children who had been forced out of education are taking their transitional exams this month, marking a critical step toward rejoining the formal school system. For many, this is more than just a test—it is a chance to prove that their futures did not end when war began.
For Fatima Idris, teacher and mother, this moment is nothing short of remarkable. “Education had almost disappeared,” she says. “After the war, schools were burned, destroyed, and left in ruins. But today, we are seeing something we never imagined—children returning to school, taking their exams, and proving that they belong in a classroom.”
A classroom without walls
Unspeakable violence was committed in the first months of the conflict. Residential neighbourhoods turned into war zones, thousands of civilians were killed, and hundreds of thousands were forced to flee.
When the fighting stopped, the children left in Al Geneina could barely recognise their town, let alone their destroyed schools. But after months of being trapped in fear at home, returning to school became a necessity. Determined to keep learning alive, teachers and parents came together, holding lessons in damaged classrooms and, at times, even under trees.
Lessons were traced in the sand, constantly disrupted by hunger, fear, and uncertainty. In 2024, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), with support from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), launched a structured non-formal education intervention across schools in Al Geneina. We renovated the buildings together with parents, teachers, and local committees. We repaired classrooms, constructed latrines, and installed secure gates. Within a few months, schools returned to being safe spaces for learning.
Children who had fallen behind could finally catch up on their learning through the accelerated education programme. They didn’t only have another chance to compensate on what they missed, but also regained a sense of normalcy, purpose, and belonging.
And now, they have a chance to take the next step.
After 10 months of attending classes, more than 2,000 students sat for exams to assess their learning. Those who passed, advanced to the next academic level and will be able to transition to formal schools once reopened.
For Haja Abdulazim Adam, education is about more than just learning, it is about safeguarding the future of Sudan’s children. “Without education, children become homeless,” she says. “We want them to be educated and cultured so they can benefit the country. After the war, many children were left on the streets, with no schools to go to. Today, they have a second chance.”
Across Al Geneina, children are proving that conflict may have interrupted their learning, but it has not erased their potential.
This exam pilot is not just about assessing learning. It is about restoring a future that millions of Sudanese children deserve.
Beyond the classroom: expanding education access
As these students take their exams, efforts are already underway to ensure that more children across Darfur have access to quality education.
More than 10,000 children have received textbooks, ensuring that every child has the resources they need to succeed.
In Kreinik, seven schools are being renovated, set to open their doors for 4,500 students this month, providing safe learning spaces for children who have spent too long without one.
This moment is a triumph for Fatima Daway, a teacher who once feared education in West Darfur would never recover. “The war caused immense destruction,” she says.” “We were psychologically broken. We could not imagine that schools would return as they did. But they did. And today, hope has returned with them.”
A future that can’t wait
This is just the beginning. The goal is clear: to ensure that no child in Sudan is denied their right to learn because of war. As Aisha clutches her exam paper and begins to write, she is not just answering questions. She is rewriting her future.
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