Paris: The Education Quality Improvement Project (EQUIP2), funded by the European Union, concluded on Thursday in Paris as it prepares for the launch of its third phase. This initiative is one of the most significant efforts aimed at improving the quality of education in Sudan.
According to Sudan News Agency, the closing ceremony was attended by Dr. Amin Awad-Al-Seed, the Director of the National Teacher Training Center, and was organized under the supervision of Expertise France along with project team members. Dr. Awad-Al-Seed highlighted the severe crisis facing Sudan’s education system due to the ongoing war, which has led to school closures and displacement of both teachers and students. He commended Expertise France’s decision to resume EQUIP2 activities, seeing it as a gesture of solidarity towards Sudanese teachers and refugee children in neighboring countries such as Egypt, Chad, and Ethiopia.
The project has delivered training manuals and a digital platform, establishing a partnership model that Dr. Awad-Al-Seed praised for its participatory approach. The National Centre is treated as a co-owner, not just a recipient. Among the key outcomes are validated training manuals and a “White Paper” that outlines the Centre’s reform vision for the coming three years.
A notable achievement of the project is the successful bridging of the gap between pre-service and in-service teacher training, a longstanding challenge. The Centre now aims to standardize training methodologies across different states, enhance the capabilities of trainers, and expand the digital platform, which is integrated with a unified professional numbering system.
Dr. Awad-Al-Seed expressed gratitude to the European Union for its unwavering support through EQUIP1 and EQUIP2 and expressed hope for the continuation of this support with EQUIP3. The goal is to build an effective and integrated teacher training system in Sudan.