Dakar, September 19 (APS) – Thirty measures intended to guarantee a good return to school and a good academic return were taken at the end of an interministerial meeting chaired this Thursday by the Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko.
”The Minister of National Education (MEN), in conjunction with the ministers in charge of the Interior, Sanitation, the Environment and Local Authorities, and the Armed Forces, will take the necessary steps to restore educational structures affected by the wintering (…)”, informed the Minister, Secretary General of the Government, Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo.
He also announced “the establishment of a monthly day of citizen mobilization for the cleanliness of all establishments and schools in Senegal.”
He also mentioned “necessary” provisions for access to water and electricity for educational structures.
Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo stressed that the Prime Minister insisted on the need to “speed up the connection to electricity of the vocational training centers (CFP) of Koki, Ndindi, Touba, Mboumba, Taif and Thiempeng before the start of the school year.”
He announced that the Ministry of National Education will proceed with the structuring of an “innovative” program to accelerate the complete replacement of temporary shelters, through a public-private partnership.
”The Minister of Vocational Training, in conjunction with the Ministers responsible for the Economy, Finance and Local Authorities, is instructed to submit, by the end of March 2025 at the latest, an action plan to accelerate the program for the construction of vocational training centers (…)”, he continued.
According to him, “particular attention should be paid to the economic model of these centres.”
He informs that the Prime Minister has instructed the Minister of National Education to submit, by the end of March 2025 at the latest, an action plan for the implementation of an “emergency program” to upgrade school infrastructure.
Regarding the provision of desks and benches to schools, as part of the National Furniture Project, he pointed out that the ministers concerned had been asked to make, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and Budget, a “sufficient allocation” under the 2025 budget.
The objective is to enable the rehabilitation of 100,000 tables and benches and the acquisition of 70,275 new tables and benches.
As part of the implementation of the presidential directive relating to the compulsory wearing of school uniforms for the 2024-2025 school year, it was requested to “ensure the availability of uniforms within the required timeframes”.
In order to ensure the conditions for an “inclusive” education, guaranteeing free access to school for all children, without any distinction, particularly concerning the wearing of clothing, “the Minister of National Education must submit, no later than September 27, 2024, an order inviting schools to comply with their internal regulations with the provisions of the Constitution,” indicated the Secretary General of the Government.
NSS/ASG/SBS/AKS
