Days Before Its Start… Sudanese Certificate Examinations: Militias Continue to Harass Students

The security and technical arrangements for the delayed Sudanese Certificate Examinations from 2023 are proceeding smoothly. However, these arrangements have not been well-received by the militias and their supporters, who are attempting to obstruct them in various ways. Nonetheless, the determination and resolve of the state and the Higher Examinations Committee are stronger, and the exams are set to take place on the scheduled date, December 28th.

Warning from the Ministry of Education: The Ministry of Education has warned that a campaign has begun to obstruct the Sudanese Certificate Examinations, create psychological pressure on students, and undermine the state’s ability to conduct the exams with baseless arguments, exploiting the psychological state of students who were unable to take the exam. There are claims that this could lead to the division of the country, despite all the efforts being made.

Abdulrahman Al-Najoumi, the acting Director of Media at the Ministry of Education, stated in a statement that those who speak of such matters are focusing on students from the Darfur states, ignoring the fact that most of them have fled to safe areas and registered for the exams over the past four months. Some of them have registered in the Northern State, in external centers in neighboring countries, and in the White Nile State and other safe areas. He further pointed out that students from Gezira, Khartoum, and Sinnar, who were displaced by the war, had been counted and relocated to safe states.

Al-Najoumi emphasized that the goal of those trying to obstruct the exams is not the welfare of the students but rather to disrupt the exams, aiming to call for a ceasefire and a truce during the exam days to re-supply and reposition the militia after the military’s successes following their failure through humanitarian means.

Targeting Students: As part of their targeting of civilians, the Rapid Support Forces militia intercepted Sudanese Certificate Examination students fleeing by Nile boats in the Sheikh Al-Siddiq area in the Kosti locality of the White Nile state. The militia prevented the students from traveling to sit for the exams and destroyed their textbooks, a clear violation of citizens’ right to move. The militia also prevented some students from Darfur from leaving their villages to safe areas to sit for the exams.

State’s Determination: The Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council, Malik Agar, approved a proposal from the Technical Committee for the Sudanese Certificate Examinations to establish two exam centers in the Managil and Qureshi localities in Gezira state. He confirmed, during a meeting at his office in Port Sudan yesterday, with Dr. Ahmed Khalifa Omar, the Commissioner responsible for managing the Ministry of Education, in the presence of Dr. Kamal al-Din Awad, Minister of Education in Gezira State, the importance of these two centers due to the large number of students coming from different localities in the state and from other states controlled by the rebellious Rapid Support Forces militia.

Gezira’s Role: In this context, the acting commissioner of the Ministry of Education confirmed the establishment of two centers for the Sudanese Certificate Examinations in Managil and Qureshi. Dr. Ahmed explained that the Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council had directed efforts to remove any obstacles and facilitate all procedures related to the exams, including arranging transport and providing a budget for securing the exams.

The ministry has confirmed its readiness to receive students in Managil and Qureshi, urging families to prepare for this event and send their children to take the exams. Dr. Ahmed expressed hope that the exams in March will be held across all localities of Gezira state after they are cleared from the remnants of the rebellion. He praised the significant interest and follow-up by the Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council to ensure the exams proceed as planned, particularly in states that have suffered from militia violations and atrocities.

Gezira’s Unique Situation: On his part, the Minister of Education in Gezira State confirmed the readiness of the Managil and Qureshi localities to host the Sudanese Certificate Examinations. He highlighted that the Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council had shown clear interest in establishing exam centers in Gezira state due to its importance and uniqueness, pledging to overcome all obstacles and challenges.