The administration of the University of El Daein in East Darfur State has decided to reopen partially, ending the closure due to the war in the country.
The announcement of a gradual reopening of the higher learning institution follows a Council of Deans meeting in El Daein town on Wednesday.
The university’s deputy vice-chancellor, Dr. Al-Sadiq Abdullah, told Radio Tamazuj that the decision to reopen the university partially aligns with the central government’s decision to reopen universities and schools in areas where there is relative stability.
Dr Al-Sadiq revealed that the partial reopening of the university will begin with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Distance Learning.
Acting Cabinet Minister Osman Hussein Osman has recently directed the reopening of universities and schools in Sudan before the end of October in all states that have not witnessed insecurity caused by fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Meanwhile, Dr. Musa Issa Haren, a lecturer at the University of El Daein, said that the central government decided to reopen universities and schools.
“We find it impossible to resume studies for bachelor’s degree students, but the university can be reopened to postgraduate students and distance education students due to their presence within the state. It is expected that the university will benefit, if studies continue, from the presence of professors from the universities of Nyala and El Fasher to fill the gap,” he said.
Ali Al-Rafiq, a University of El Daein student, believes that education is essential, but in war situations, the decision to reopen universities and schools needs to be corrected.
“If the city of El Daein, where the university is located, is safe, there are students at the university from states witnessing conflict, and some of them even fled from their areas of residence to other states or outside Sudan,” he said.
“There should be a consideration for the situation of the lecturers as well because most of them have fled and moved outside the country. So the timing of reopening the university is not good,” he added.
The university student objected to the partial reopening of the university, describing the move as a “political decision” and “difficult to implement” in war situations.
The University of El Daein is one of the public universities in Sudan.