Schools are open
It is time to learn
- Available in:
- English
- العربية
The 2022-2023 academic year has begun, and schools are open.
Following the long break that was further prolonged by floods, the gates of many schools in Sudan are open for children to continue learning. While schools remained closed, the education of school aged children was interrupted.
On Wednesday 5 October, World Teacher’s Day, the gates of Umhani primary school located in Mayo village, Jabal Aulia locality, Khartoum state, opened, letting in over 300 girls aged 6 to 12 years. The teachers were ready to support the children settle back in school.
During the early morning, classrooms are buzzing as girls engage in various activities led by the teachers. They sing, dance, and enjoy light moments with each other. Through these engagements, they learn.
This is how some of the children feel about returning to school!
Ferdos Adam, 9 years old, is very happy that schools are open. She loves reading and looked forward to returning because in school she learns how to read and write. “I also wanted to chat with my friends,” she shared. Staying and completing school will ensure she achieves her dream of becoming a Mathematics teacher.
Niham Nahandala, 11 years old, missed learning and her friends. The Grade 4 pupil aspires to become a doctor after school because she wants to help people. She is thrilled to be back in school.
Inas Asman, 9 years old (right), Grade 4 pupil likes all subjects taught in class but loves mathematics more. “I enjoy the subject very much.” Asman dreams of becoming a ‘child doctor’ and when asked why, she says “I don’t want to see any children sick.” To her, school feels like a second home, and she is very happy to be back.
Rayal (left), 10 years old, wants to become an Arabic teacher. To achieve this dream, Rayal is in school and learning. “I love the subject and my teacher Ekbal Sulaiman because she ensures I understand Arabic.” Sulaiman confirms that Rayal is very active in class and well behaved.
8-year-old Riyan Sherif was looking forward to meeting her teachers, friends and acquiring new knowledge when back to school. Only in Grade 2, Riyan know what she wants to be in future. “I want to be a headteacher. They treat children well,” she says with a smile.
In Sultan Terab Primary School, the situation is not any different. It is week two since they returned, and many are excited to be back to school.
Aladin Hussein (R) attends grade one at the all-boys school. His favourite subject is English. When asked to say a few words in English, he quickly started counting “one, two, three, four…..”. Happy to be back to learn, the young boy aspires to become an ‘aeroplane engineer.’
6-year-old Abdalrazik Yahaya stands at the blackboard, going through the numbers as the rest of the classroom listens attentively. “I love mathematics and I like learning it more,” he says. “I want to be a doctor to help people in need.”
When 7-year-old Mohammad Badawi completes school, he wants to become a doctor. “I will treat people for free. I want to help them,” he shared. While at home, he missed reading, writing, and playing with his friends and excited to be back.
“When I complete school, I want to be a police officer. I want to protect my community,” says Riad, 6 years and Grade 2 pupil. He is excited to be back in class to learn.
While schools remain spaces for children to learn how to write and read, the learning institutions provide much more than that. Schools are also spaces where children play, socialize as well as attain critical skills they need to survive in and out of school. At school, many start the journey to realize their dreams.
At the two schools, UNICEF has rehabilitated classrooms, and provided school supplies and desks to support continued learning.
