Sudanese teachers warn against separate exams in RSF-controlled areas
February 16, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Teachers’ Committee warned on Monday against holding secondary school certificate exams independently in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), following an announcement by a rival administration that it would conduct its own testing.
The “Founding Government,” an administrative body based in areas under RSF control, said it had completed arrangements to hold the 2026 Sudanese Certificate exams from its headquarters in Nyala, South Darfur.
The move has raised concerns about a deepening educational divide in the war-torn country. Thousands of students in conflict zones have been unable to sit for national exams for three years due to the suspension of classes, the displacement of staff, and the destruction of schools.
The Teachers’ Committee said in a statement it was following the move with concern, arguing that any testing conducted outside of a unified national plan threatens the “unity of the certificate” and the future of students.
“Education must be a unifying space for all children of the country, not a tool used in the conflict,” the committee said. It called for the formation of an independent national body of experts to coordinate exams across all of Sudan to ensure equal opportunities and prevent the politicization of the curriculum.
In a separate statement, the Council of Ministers of the “Founding Government” said it was committed to providing opportunities for those excluded from the education system since the war began in April 2023.
The administration stated it would oversee registration, exam centres, and scheduling in coordination with a technical supervisory committee to ensure the “integrity and safety” of the process. It further pledged that students who pass these exams would have fair access to universities and institutions within its jurisdiction.
The rival educational plans come as Sudan’s formal schooling system remains largely paralyzed, with the UN warning that the conflict has created one of the world’s worst education crises.