E-learning faces challenge in Sudan amid power outage, internet disruption

As Sudan grapples with a prolonged conflict, e-learning, a vital resource for students in affected areas, faces significant obstacles due to frequent power outages and limited internet connectivity.

The conflict has devastated the educational infrastructure in Khartoum State, with many schools vandalized or converted into military barracks, leaving students in conflict zones unable to return to traditional classrooms.

"Many students are eager to use electronic platforms, but the instability of electricity and poor internet connectivity make effective participation nearly impossible," said Ayman Hassan Mohamedain, a board member of Al-Fath Private Schools in Khartoum.

Seventeen-year-old student Ibtisam Awad shared her struggles with e-learning. "During class times, I often have to visit a satellite internet shop with my phone. Other times, I can't charge my phone because of frequent power outages," she said.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), nearly 17 million children in Sudan are out of school due to the ongoing conflict.

The crisis, which began in April 2023, pits the Sudanese Armed Forces against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The violence has claimed over 27,120 lives and displaced more than 14 million people, both internally and across borders, according to international organizations.