Schools across Sudan’s West Darfur state are continuing to operate, with student enrolment increasing despite the challenges posed by the ongoing war, the state’s director of secondary education, Youssef Osman, said.
West Darfur is among the areas controlled by the Sudan Foundation Alliance (Tasis), a parallel administration aligned with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting Sudan’s army since April 2023.
Tasis announced the formation of a parallel administration in areas under its control in July 2025, with RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, heading its presidential council and civilian politician Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi serving as prime minister.
Osman told Radio Tamazuj on Sunday that enrolment was increasing as parents, guardians and students recognise the importance of education and the lack of alternatives amid the conflict.
“Schools are continuing at all levels, including preschool, primary and secondary education. This is because parents and teachers are convinced that there is no alternative to education. As a result, enrolment is high, and we also thank the state administration for making education a priority,” he said.
He said the state administration had made efforts to stabilise the education sector and keep schools open despite the difficult circumstances. It had also committed to paying monthly incentives to teachers in public secondary schools, he said, adding that payments for September had been distributed to support teachers and encourage them to remain at work.
A teacher in the state said education workers are determined to continue teaching despite the challenges, particularly to protect the future of children and young people from marginalised communities.
“We will try our best to provide education to our children. We are here because of them. We know the state is affected by the war, but we remain available to provide education to those deprived of opportunities because of the conflict. We also thank the state administration for the little support we receive,” he said.
The teacher said schools are also providing education to displaced people who had fled to West Darfur because of the fighting. Access to schooling, the teacher added, is essential to social stability, warning that a lack of educational opportunities could aggravate social problems.
Student Maqbula Abdo Mohammed told Radio Tamazuj that pupils remain committed to their studies despite harsh living conditions and the breakdown of state institutions, describing continued access to education as a source of hope.
“We are committed to education in the state, and we thank our teachers for the education they are providing to us despite the war,” she said.
Maqbula, a student at El Geneina Secondary School in El Geneina city, also praised the female student who ranked first in the Sudanese Certificate examinations administered under the Tasis government.
West Darfur’s education sector continues to face major challenges from the war, including disruptions to schools and the displacement of residents.
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