Sudan

Inclusive Education (IE) in Sudan

In collaboration with IAS Sudan and our local partner organization Al-Masar, IAS Denmark improves access to education for marginalized children in Dilling in Sydkordofan in the southern part of the country. It is particularly children with special needs and children from nomadic cultures who live under difficult conditions when it comes to schooling. Through campaigns and organization of interest networks, civil society is strengthened in working for children's rights to education. We engage several levels in society by working with both parents, schools and authorities.

In order to be able to identify the degree of disability among children with special needs, a regional center has been established where children also receive training and where parents can be guided in how to best support their children with disabilities.

Network and dialogue forum

IAS works to strengthen civil society through campaigns and organizing interest networks, where parents and teachers meet to share challenges and experiences. For example, three family support groups with 20 members each have been established in Rashad, and the same applies to parent-teacher groups in the area. Four times a year, representatives from the groups meet in a larger dialogue forum, which also includes participants from the Ministry of Education. Here, special education and related issues are discussed. Local leaders and members of the government also participate and help to ensure that the project can influence the decision-making processes at a higher political level.

By bringing the conditions of marginalized children on the agenda among several groups in civil society, awareness is raised about the importance of education for all. It helps to break taboos and increase the willingness to learn and get involved in children's rights and conditions - from parents, schools and the authorities. In this way, even more parents like Khadiga Ahmed Almustafa can experience that their children are recognized as who they are, and that they are entitled to a place on the school bench, on equal terms with other students.

The work on inclusive education in Sudan is part of the program work, which is also being implemented in Tanzania, Kenya and South Sudan. It is financed through CISU (Civil Society in Development) with 12.8 million danish kroner over three years.