Khartoum Basic Education Support Project The secession of South Sudan with most of the oil reserves put significant strain on Sudan’s economy. The continued sanctions, underdevelopment of other sectors during the brief oil boom and the worsening global economy has impacted negatively on government revenue and spending. The Sudan government‘s 2012 budget, for example, is based on a 36.5% reduction in revenue. Unresolved border issues with South Sudan, increasing rebel activities in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, as well as the ongoing Darfur conflict, continues to drag the country from the path of prosperity. 

Sudan has more than 1.9 million IDPs in Darfur alone. An additional 2.3 million people are regarded as highly vulnerable and in need of assistance in other parts of the country. About 40% of the population are children under 15 years. Following the ongoing tension and conflicts in the 3 CPA protocol areas (Abyei, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile) and the lack of access by humanitarian aid agencies, displacement is on the increase. Families who escape the conflict end up in the safe havens in the periphery of major cities. Such areas are characterised by harsh conditions, long distances from basic services, lack of income opportunities and outright lack of basic services. This displacement is putting additional pressure on the limited facilities in safe locations such as those in the slum and low income localities in cities such as Khartoum.  

Under-investment in education jeopardises the future of millions of Sudanese children each year as they grow up unskilled, poorly equipped for adult life, unhealthy and with significantly reduced chances of meaningful future employment. 

During the period June 2011 to March 2012, CAFOD and a funding partner (CPL Aromas) supported the rehabilitation of Angola and Zagalona basic schools in Omdurman.  The schools, originally constructed of local materials and supported by the Archdiocese of Khartoum, cater for about 540 children of families displaced by conflict, especially from South Kordofan (Nuba mountains) as well as local children from poor backgrounds.  

The project was implemented by the Catholic Archdiocese of Khartoum in close coordination with the Ministry of Education and Guidance and the Education Department in the respective localities. 

The overall changes brought by the project include:

•	Improved learning environment. Noise was reduced and privacy at the schools was greatly improved following the construction of school fences and sun shelters. This led to better concentration and focus by teachers and children on learning.
•	Stability in teacher retention improved due to salary payments being made in good time.
•	Privacy and hygiene was improved due to the construction of good quality latrines for boys and girls (as well as teachers).
•	Improved attendance with steady numbers throughout the year despite a small drop in enrolment due to some children moving back to South Sudan after the break of Sudan and South Sudan.  
•	Angola: at the start of the year there were 256 students; by the end there were 232 (110 boys, 122 girls) pupils. The school offered 16 candidates for the class 8 national examination (10 girls and 6 boys). 12 passed while 2 boys and 2 girls failed.
•	Zagalona: At the start of the year there were 235 students; at the end there were 209 (107 boys and 102 girls) pupils. The school offered 16 candidates for year 8 national exams. 11 passed and 5 failed.
•	Overall, 491 out of the planned 504 children benefitted from an improved learning environment and quality education.

This new phase of the project will build on the existing Technical Agreement between CAFOD and the Ministry of Education (MoE). It is an expansion of last year’s work and builds on the lessons learnt for improved investment in basic education for children from poor areas of Khartoum through interventions that support student enrolment, retention and education quality. CAFOD will continue to support the Archdiocese sponsored schools of Angola and Zagalona. In addition, we will support an additional 5 schools in the same 2 localities (Umbedda and Karari) where Angola and Zagalona are situated.   

Umbedda and Karary are considered by the MoE as 2 of the 4 most needy localities in Khartoum State. They are host to vulnerable communities of different types: IDPs, refugees and economically displaced people. Out of 4,352 children in 7 target schools, nearly 1,500 utilise temporary shelters with limited or no facilities. Shortage of water and lack of sanitation hinders enrolment and decreases the retention of children, especially girls, in these schools. Lack of or poor fencing conditions results on an unsafe teaching and learning environment in addition to misuse of the limited available resources. A total of 102 teachers (55 MoE and 47 volunteer teachers) in the schools are de-motivated by the difficult working conditions including inadequate and uncomfortable offices, poor incentives and a lack of training opportunities. 

CAFOD, with its partners, is planning to address these problems to increase enrolment and retention rates. Besides, the project will insure quality basic education that can help in bettering the future life chances of the targeted children.

CAFOD will work with its partner - Mujadiddun - as the lead National NGO together with the Archdiocese of Khartoum, school authorities, the PTA, the MOE and other stakeholders to develop the various project components including appropriate potable and washing water supply in the schools. The project will also engage in hygiene and environmental improvement work in the selected schools. Where lack of fencing interferes with the safety, privacy and welfare of the teachers/students, the project will help to construct secure perimeter fences. The project will also provide books, and contribute to meeting teaching/learning needs and other software requirement for the improvement of education quality in the selected schools. 

A set of activities are proposed to contribute to achieving the project objectives:

1. Essential construction, repairs and maintenance of infrastructures and sanitation, classrooms, offices, temporary learning shelters, school fences, latrines
2. Provision of donkey carts for water supply;  water tanks, pots and barrels for water storage; potable water containers for students, etc
3. Providing schools with office furniture to improve planning and the school administration environment 
4. Provide schools with needed seating (desks and chairs)
5. Provide schools with textbooks, and teachers’ manuals/guides and visual aids
6. Provide schools with stationary including (mobile boards, teacher’s sets, white & coloured chalks, notebooks, pens, markers and A4 papers) and recreation materials & facilities for effective learning and recreational opportunities within the school environment. 
7. Support for Grade 8 students in their monthly and national exams
8. Providing school children with school education kits
9. Providing access to training courses for teacher in schools (both in-service courses and tailor-made training)
10. Providing both male & female members of PTAs, community leaders and stakeholders with training on education enrolment, retention and quality improvement