Education reform in Senegal: the introduction of national languages ​​effective in thirteen academies

The introduction of national languages ​​into preschool and primary education will become effective in a total of 13 academies in Senegal, from the start of the 2024-2025 school year, Moustapha Mamba Guirassy, ​​Senegalese Minister of National Education, announced on Monday.

English is “a reality at the preschool and elementary level. National languages ​​too, we have gone from nine academies to thirteen today. So, 13 academies will introduce national languages ​​for the 2024-2025 school year,” declared Moustapha Mamba Guirassy this Monday, taking stock of the start of the school year.

National languages, beyond language and communication, “will also focus on mathematics and sciences,” explained the Senegalese Minister of National Education.

“We are moving forward and there is a real introduction and appropriation of national languages ​​by the system,” he added, stressing that “this is not an ideological question, but a question of academic performance “.

According to Moustapha Mamba Guirassy, ​​the introduction of national languages ​​should allow children to be “much more efficient” from a young age. “This is the wish of the Head of State, and these are the instructions that we received within the Ministry of National Education,” he said.

The Senegalese minister recalled a “major” orientation of the government, linked to its “concern to reduce all the costs of education and all the costs of living in general”. “We have received instructions to make the wearing of uniforms compulsory, and we are working on it,” he said.

“This year, there is a part of the education system which will benefit from this support, and I think it is a way of relieving parents. Extremely important measures are also being taken to support parents and the school in general in relation to the learning environment,” added Minister Mamba Guirassy.

Sami Nemli with agencies / Les Inspirations ECO