4 -  The Politicization of the Education System: Implications for Peace in Sudan

Hala Asmina Guta

doi:10.57054/amr.v17i1-2.5178

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1-2 (2009): Africa Media Review, Volume 17, no 1 & 2, 2009

Issue Published : December 28, 2021

4 - The Politicization of the Education System: Implications for Peace in Sudan

https://doi.org/10.57054/amr.v17i1-2.5178

Hala Asmina Guta

Corresponding Author(s) : Hala Asmina Guta

hi198004@ohio.edu

Africa Media Review, Vol. 17 No. 1-2 (2009): Africa Media Review, Volume 17, no 1 & 2, 2009
Article Published : March 5, 2009

Abstract

This article takes a closer look at the education system in Sudan and its role in social cohesion/division. It analyzes themes run in approved textbooks. The findings of this article can be summarized around three main points: the curriculum constructs an exclusionary version of Sudanese identity that is practically the same as Northern Arabic Muslim identity; heroism is associated with war and history lessons are centred on the history of wars; and, war and violence are always linked and consequently legitimized. The article argues that educational institutions in Sudan fail to create harmony and acceptance among different ethnic groups and perpetuate prejudice and violence. An urgent reform in the curriculum is needed.

Keywords

Sudan education violence conflict identity

Hala Asmina Guta. (2009). 4 - The Politicization of the Education System: Implications for Peace in Sudan. Africa Media Review, 17(1-2). https://doi.org/10.57054/amr.v17i1-2.5178

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References

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Al Turabi, H., 1994, [Video], ‘The Islamic State’, Epicflow Production of Channel Four, Princeton, N.J.: Films for the Humanities and Sciences.
Apple, M. W., 1992, ‘The Text and Cultural Politics’, Educational Researcher, 21, 4-19.
Ap le, M.W., 1993, ‘The Politics of Official Knowledge: Does a National Curriculum Make Sense?’, Teachers College Record, 95(2), 222-241.
Apple, M. W. and Christian-Smith, L. K., eds., 1991, The Politics of the Textbook. New York: Teachers College Press.
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Biong, L. D., 2003, ‘Education in Southern Sudan: War, Status and Challenges of Achieving Education for All Goals’, Paper prepared for UNESCO EFA Moni- toring Report.
Bush, D. and Saltarelli, D., 2000, ‘The Two Faces of Education in Ethnic Conflict: Towards a Peace
Building Education for Children’, Florence, Italy: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre.
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Daly, M.W. and Sikainga, A., 1993, Civil War in the Sudan. London: British Aca- demic Press.
Deng, F., 1995, War of Visions: Conflict of Identities in the Sudan. Washington, DC: The Brooking
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Entman, M .R., 1993, ‘Framing: Towards a Clarification of a Fractured Paradigm’, Journal of Communication, 43(4), 51-58.
Evans, S. and Rosenzweig, R., 1992, ‘Textbooks and Teaching’, The Journal of American History,
(4), 1377-1379.
Freire, Paulo, 1993, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, New York: Continuum.
Graham-Brown, S., 1994, ‘The Role of the Curriculum: Education Rights and Mi- norities’, London: Minority Rights Group.
Johnson, R., 1990, ‘A New Road to Serfdom? A Critical History of the 1988 Act’, in Education Group 2, ed., Education Limited: Schooling, Training and the New Right in England since 1979, London: Unwin Hyman.
Jok, M. J., 2001, War and Slavery in Sudan, Philadelphia: University of Pennsyl- vania Press.
Keen, S., 1991, ‘Why Peace isn’t Covered’, Media and Values, 56. Retrieved from: http://www.medialit.org/reading_room/article77.html
Kellow, L. C. and Steeves, L., 1998, ‘The Role of Radio in the Rwandan Genocide’, Journal of Communication, 48(3), 107-128.
Khalid, M., 1990, The Government they Deserve: The Role of the Elite in Sudan’s Political Evolution, New York: Routledge.
Khalid, M., 2003, War and Peace in Sudan: A Tale of Two Countries, London: Kegan Paul.
Loisa, K., 2005, ‘Conflict, Profit and Power: The Case of Sudan’, Paper presented at the Sudanese Studies Association Conference, York University, Toronto, Canada.
Mukhtar, Al-Baqir, 2004, ‘The Crisis of Identity in Northern Sudan: A Dilemma of a Black People
with a White Culture’, in C. Lobban and K. Rhode, eds., Race and Identity in the Nile Valley: Ancient and Contemporary Perspectives, Trenton: Red Sea Press.
Sarkesian, S. C., 1973, The Southern Sudan: A Reassessment, African Studies Review, 16 (1), 1-22.
Selman, S. A. et al., 2003, ‘Sudanese Experience in the Development and Evalua- tion of the Basic Education Curriculum’, Khartoum: Federal Ministry of Edu- cation, the National Centre for Curriculum and Educational Research.
Shor, I., 1992, Empowering Education: Critical Teaching for Social Change, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Sudan Constitution, 2005, Retrieved from: Http://Www.Sudanembassy.Org/Default.AspPage=Thisi ssudan_People
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The National Centre for Curriculum Development and Educational Research, n.d., Elements of Basic Education Curriculum, Khartoum: Federal Ministry of Education.

References

Al Mubarak, K., 2001, Turabi’s ‘Islamist’Venture: Failure and Implications, Cairo: El Dar El Thaqafiai.

Al Turabi, H., 1994, [Video], ‘The Islamic State’, Epicflow Production of Channel Four, Princeton, N.J.: Films for the Humanities and Sciences.

Apple, M. W., 1992, ‘The Text and Cultural Politics’, Educational Researcher, 21, 4-19.

Ap le, M.W., 1993, ‘The Politics of Official Knowledge: Does a National Curriculum Make Sense?’, Teachers College Record, 95(2), 222-241.

Apple, M. W. and Christian-Smith, L. K., eds., 1991, The Politics of the Textbook. New York: Teachers College Press.

Bigombe, B., Collier, P. and Sambanis, N., 2000, ‘Policies for Building Post-conflict Peace’, Journal of African Economies, 9(3), 323-348.

Biong, L. D., 2003, ‘Education in Southern Sudan: War, Status and Challenges of Achieving Education for All Goals’, Paper prepared for UNESCO EFA Moni- toring Report.

Bush, D. and Saltarelli, D., 2000, ‘The Two Faces of Education in Ethnic Conflict: Towards a Peace

Building Education for Children’, Florence, Italy: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre.

Collins, R., 1983, Shadows in the Grass: Britain in the Southern Sudan, 1918- 1956. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Daly, M.W. and Sikainga, A., 1993, Civil War in the Sudan. London: British Aca- demic Press.

Deng, F., 1995, War of Visions: Conflict of Identities in the Sudan. Washington, DC: The Brooking

Institution.

Entman, M .R., 1993, ‘Framing: Towards a Clarification of a Fractured Paradigm’, Journal of Communication, 43(4), 51-58.

Evans, S. and Rosenzweig, R., 1992, ‘Textbooks and Teaching’, The Journal of American History,

(4), 1377-1379.

Freire, Paulo, 1993, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, New York: Continuum.

Graham-Brown, S., 1994, ‘The Role of the Curriculum: Education Rights and Mi- norities’, London: Minority Rights Group.

Johnson, R., 1990, ‘A New Road to Serfdom? A Critical History of the 1988 Act’, in Education Group 2, ed., Education Limited: Schooling, Training and the New Right in England since 1979, London: Unwin Hyman.

Jok, M. J., 2001, War and Slavery in Sudan, Philadelphia: University of Pennsyl- vania Press.

Keen, S., 1991, ‘Why Peace isn’t Covered’, Media and Values, 56. Retrieved from: http://www.medialit.org/reading_room/article77.html

Kellow, L. C. and Steeves, L., 1998, ‘The Role of Radio in the Rwandan Genocide’, Journal of Communication, 48(3), 107-128.

Khalid, M., 1990, The Government they Deserve: The Role of the Elite in Sudan’s Political Evolution, New York: Routledge.

Khalid, M., 2003, War and Peace in Sudan: A Tale of Two Countries, London: Kegan Paul.

Loisa, K., 2005, ‘Conflict, Profit and Power: The Case of Sudan’, Paper presented at the Sudanese Studies Association Conference, York University, Toronto, Canada.

Mukhtar, Al-Baqir, 2004, ‘The Crisis of Identity in Northern Sudan: A Dilemma of a Black People

with a White Culture’, in C. Lobban and K. Rhode, eds., Race and Identity in the Nile Valley: Ancient and Contemporary Perspectives, Trenton: Red Sea Press.

Sarkesian, S. C., 1973, The Southern Sudan: A Reassessment, African Studies Review, 16 (1), 1-22.

Selman, S. A. et al., 2003, ‘Sudanese Experience in the Development and Evalua- tion of the Basic Education Curriculum’, Khartoum: Federal Ministry of Edu- cation, the National Centre for Curriculum and Educational Research.

Shor, I., 1992, Empowering Education: Critical Teaching for Social Change, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Sudan Constitution, 2005, Retrieved from: Http://Www.Sudanembassy.Org/Default.AspPage=Thisi ssudan_People

Tawil, S., and Harley, A., eds., 2004, Education, Conflict and Social Cohesion, Paris: UNESCO, International Bureau of Education.

The National Centre for Curriculum Development and Educational Research, n.d., Elements of Basic Education Curriculum, Khartoum: Federal Ministry of Education.