Sudan Teachers World Teachers Day 2025 Amid War Crisis

Amid the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the education system has been severely impacted: schools are closed, teachers remain unpaid, and students are displaced. The war that erupted in April 2023 has intensified challenges that Sudanese teachers have long faced, including unpaid labor, strikes, and intimidation. UNESCO’s theme for World Teachers’ Day 2025, “Collaboration is key to making teachers thrive,” underscores the importance of partnerships among teachers, unions, and governments in rebuilding education systems. In Sudan, however, collaboration has become a matter of survival rather than professional development, as teachers fight for basic necessities such as salaries, security, and respect while the entire education system is under siege.

The struggle of Sudanese teachers dates back to the Omar Al‑Bashir dictatorship, when education was one of the first sectors to show signs of neglect. In 2014, secondary‑school teachers in El Fasher, North Darfur, struck over unpaid bonuses and salary arrears, exposing a pattern of late payments that would later define the profession. Similar strikes occurred in 2015, 2018, and 2019, with teachers demanding fair pay, safe working conditions, and respect. The brief civilian transition between 2020 and early 2023 offered some hope, yet teachers continued to protest delayed wages and unfulfilled promises of a new salary structure.

The current war has worsened the situation dramatically: schools have been destroyed, teachers remain unpaid, and students are displaced. By February 2024, teachers in South Darfur declared it “impossible to reopen” schools because of displacement, insecurity, and non‑payment of salaries. Despite these hardships, Sudanese educators continue to call for a coordinated and safe resumption of education. The Sudanese Teachers’ Committee has rejected government orders to reopen schools, citing unpaid salaries and unsafe conditions.

International bodies, including UNESCO and UNICEF, have stressed the need to support teachers in crisis zones with training, safety measures, and salaries to keep classrooms alive. The future of teaching in Sudan remains uncertain, and the education crisis is far from new. Genuine collaboration in Sudan will require tangible protection, fair compensation, and recognition of teachers as pillars of recovery. As the global community marks World Teachers’ Day 2025, it is essential to acknowledge the critical role teachers play in rebuilding education systems and safeguarding children’s right to learn.