Nyala, September 02 (Darfur24)
Parents and bookstore owners in Nyala, South Darfur, have reported shortages of school textbooks and sharp price increases as the 2026–2027 academic year gets underway.
Yahya Abdulrahman, a bookstore owner, told Darfur24 that Arabic, mathematics, and English textbooks for third-grade primary students are in short supply, along with the history textbook for intermediate students.
He said textbooks for the third year of secondary school are almost unavailable, forcing some students to rely on used books.
Parents have also complained about rising costs. Mohammed Zein Suleiman told Darfur24 that he paid 40,000 Sudanese pounds for first-grade books, 43,000 pounds for second-grade books and 70,000 pounds for fifth-grade books—significantly more than last year.
Schoolbook supplier Saleh Abdul Qader said some wholesalers restrict access to scarce textbooks, supplying them selectively before they reach retailers at higher prices.
Traders attributed the shortages and price increases to restrictions on truck movement between central and northern Sudan and Darfur, which have increased transportation costs and reduced the volume of books reaching Nyala markets.
Education in Darfur is gradually resuming after a prolonged disruption caused by the war, which has affected schools across the region since April 2023. However, shortages of textbooks and other school supplies continue to hinder the reopening of education.