[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1147, 301], "category": "Text", "text": "Short problem analysis: Sudan's education system has not been able to respond adequately to the demographic increase nor to provide access to education for children from marginalised groups. The gross enrolment ratio in basic education has been stagnating at 72.5% in the last decade. Yet, this average conceals important disparities between groups and states, with much lower enrolment in conflict-affected areas. South and North Kordofan, for instance, experience a downward trend when it comes to school enrolment (-0.5% between 2018 and 2020)."}, {"bbox": [96, 334, 1147, 634], "category": "Text", "text": "The recent Joint Education Needs Assessment (JENA), carried out in 18 states of Sudan by the Education Cluster, and co-led by Save the Children, found that financial barriers are the primary reasons (i.e. unaffordable school fees and learning materials) preventing children from accessing quality learning. In addition, children face several protection threats which impact on enrollment rates, such as the recruitment and use of children by armed groups in conflict-affected areas, early and forced marriage (38% of girls in Sudan are married before they turn 18), and child labour, particularly in the mining sector. Child marriage, engagement in armed forces and labour are common forms of harmful coping mechanisms to which families resort in response to shocks. This situation is compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, as shown by a reported increase of 24% in child marriage and 38% in child labour in the first half of 2020 alone. Moreover, some schools are simply not functional, especially in conflict-affected states like North Kordofan, South and West Darfur."}, {"bbox": [96, 669, 1147, 789], "category": "Text", "text": "Other barriers to school enrolment and, in particular, retention include the poor quality of teaching, the lack of accessibility and gender sensitivity of school facilities, and unsafe learning environments. The JENA study found that 31% of caregivers worry about protection issues on school premises. UNICEF reports that 64% of children aged under 14 experience some form of violent discipline in schools and/or at home."}, {"bbox": [96, 822, 1147, 1062], "category": "Text", "text": "School infrastructure is generally poor. The JENA found that 52% of assessed schools require major rehabilitation, 22% of classrooms are damaged, 46% of schools have no access to clean water, and each latrine hosts an average of 132 students - making water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) a significant issue, especially for girls and children with disabilities. In public schools, half of learners in Grade 1 have seats compared to over 80% in Grade 8. Only 46% of basic education schools are connected to electricity with more than 10,000 schools not able to carry out any school activity before daybreak or late in the evening. According to the government's Education Sector Strategic Plan 2018-23 (ESSP) approximately 10,545 additional classrooms would have to be built in the course of 5 years to reach 100% Gross Enrollment Rate (GER)."}, {"bbox": [96, 1096, 1147, 1216], "category": "Text", "text": "It is estimated that only 50% of children have access to basic writing materials and 38% to adequate textbooks. In 76% of surveyed schools, children have no access to additional reading materials (storybooks, magazines, etc.). This issue is also linked to the overall quality of the educational services provided, as 27% of schools reported no teacher training was implemented in the last two years."}, {"bbox": [96, 1249, 1147, 1339], "category": "Text", "text": "Poor diet and child nutrition also affect education outcomes. 2.3 million children in Sudan suffer from malnutrition, and one in six children is acutely malnourished³. What's more, 33% of caregivers indicate that children are now eating less than they did prior to the pandemic."}, {"bbox": [96, 1371, 1147, 1520], "category": "Text", "text": "Consequently, basic education in Sudan witnesses low and stagnant learning outcomes. The National Learning Assessment (NLA), conducted in 2015, shows that the results of pupils in mathematics and reading are low compared to similar countries (Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco). On average, 40% of learners in grade 3 in Sudan cannot read familiar words (16% in the Northern state, and 50% in Kassala, Blue Nile, or South Kordofan). In mathematics, only 46% correctly carried out level 1 addition exercises."}, {"bbox": [86, 1622, 219, 1644], "category": "Footnote", "text": "³ UNICEF, 2020"}, {"bbox": [1052, 1680, 1159, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 24"}]