Sudan Case Study

Abstract

Examines the decentralized nature of the education finance system in Sudan, and explores potential ways to increase the equity and efficiency of public spending, by (1) reviewing the education sector, including its structure, management, and performance; (2) describing education finance in the context of decentralization, including the financing framework, public expenditures, and links to learning outcomes; and (3) suggesting some key policies to strengthen Sudan’s education finance system. The Sudanese Revolution of 2019 has created a unique opportunity to usher in transformative reforms that can significantly impact the goal of ensuring all Sudanese children have access to quality education. A very weak relationship exists between states’ public spending per student and average scores in reading and mathematics on the 2017 National Learning Assessment (NLA) in grade 6. The discrepancy in test results reflects differences in how public education funding supports activities that will improve learning outcomes, such as teacher training, and learning materials, such as textbooks.