Evaluation of the educational policies of the Sudan, 1972-1992 : impact and implications on educational development in the Southern Sudan

The education policy development in the Sudan should be understood within the context of Islamic general policy orientation and the specific goals and aims of education as perceived by the national policy-makers in the Central Government. The policy orientation has been in line with how the Islamic leaders in the country defined Sudanese society. The framework of educational policies showed a consistent trend towards the building of an Arab-Islamic society. The government's determination to uphold this trend was showed by the persistent policy of centralisation of education policy development. There was in all of this a lack of political will on the part of the central government to meet the real educational needs of the South Sudan. For practical and security reasons as well. as for the fact that the Sudan Government censors research on policy issues it was not feasible to carry out the investigation in the Sudan. The researcher however was motivated and influenced by the availability of resource persons and the convenience of carrying out the empirical work within the LJK. The study puts into proper perspective the impact of the educational policies on educational development in the South Sudan which, to some extent, was compounded by the lack of unity among the southern politicians. The research has filled in some of the gaps in the existing knowledge about education in the South Sudan. It provides a vital insight upon which future action regarding the direction for educational development in the South Sudan could unfold.