At the start of his communication, the President of the Republic informed the Council that he will set, by decree, the opening date of the first session of the newly elected National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution.
Returning to the issue of the systemic transformation of public universities, the Head of State reminded the Prime Minister of the urgency of taking all appropriate measures to ensure the continuity of educational activities and social stability in universities and colleges. public higher education establishments. To this end, he asked the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and the Minister of Finance and Budget to implement, in conjunction with the Rectors and Directors of Social Work Centers universities, an emergency plan, under the supervision of the Prime Minister, for the delivery, according to a controlled schedule, of all projects relating to lecture halls, classrooms, restaurants and pavilions undertaken by the State in the public universities.
The President of the Republic pays particular attention to controlling the budgets of universities, centers of social works as well as the structures of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. On this subject, he invited the Prime Minister to finalize an audit of university and social expenditure and to initiate without delay a process of optimizing the functioning of universities and social work centers in relation with all stakeholders.
The Head of State underlined, in this dynamic of renovation of university governance, the importance of promoting, in synergy with the university community, a consensual economic model to ensure the adequate functioning and consolidated performance of the university system and research. Given the significant annual increase in student numbers, the Government must, in agreement with the universities, adopt a new human capital management policy with a view to establishing better planning of the orientation process for new baccalaureate holders and set the budgetary positions of teachers for their adequate support. He asked the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation to consider, in a spirit of complementarity, the pooling of certain functions taking into account the university map whose objectives must be consistent with the strategy of the rise in power of the Territorial Poles.
To close this chapter, the President of the Republic invited the Minister in charge of Higher Education to accelerate, in conjunction with the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Cooperation, the finalization of the sectoral policy letter of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. This new roadmap should promote the strategic repositioning of the higher education sector in public policies and its major role in the preparation and development of national human capital, a priority axis of “Vision Senegal 2050”.
The Head of State addressed the problem of strengthening the role of “daara” in the education and training system. The “daara” constitute one of the major pillars of children’s education in our country. However, these particular educational establishments are not fundamentally integrated into the official education system in general, vocational or technical education. This is why he reminded the Government of the imperative of better integration of “daara” into the official education system through an exhaustive mapping of establishments, the creation of a status for establishments and teachers, duly trained in specialized centers, the development of professional training for learners with a view to facilitating their integration into socio-economic life. He urged the Minister of National Education to finalize with all stakeholders the consensual and essential reforms to modernize the functioning of the “daara”. He further informed the Council that he will chair the National “Daara” Day which will be celebrated on Thursday, November 28, 2024.
Speaking about the care and inclusion of people living with disabilities and the celebration, on December 3, 2024, of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the President of the Republic reminded the Government of the primordial place of this important vulnerable segment of the population in equity and social inclusion policies. He invited the Minister of Health and Social Action and the Minister of Family and Solidarity to strengthen State interventions in their favor. He asked the Ministers concerned to finalize the evaluation of the application of the social orientation law n° 2010-15 of July 6, 2010 relating to the promotion and protection of the rights of people with disabilities, in particular the card system of equal opportunities, and to prepare a new national strategy to support people living with disabilities.
Furthermore, the Head of State indicated to the Prime Minister the importance of facilitating, according to the diplomas obtained and established criteria, the recruitment and appointments of people living with disabilities in the public and parapublic sectors. The integration of people living with disabilities within private companies must also be encouraged through social dialogue with employer organizations. He asked the Ministers in charge of Education, Vocational Training and Higher Education to pay particular attention to schools, entities and specialized centers dedicated to education, training and the integration of people living with a disability.
Finally, the President of the Republic informed the Council that he will preside on Sunday 1is December 2024, in the presence of numerous foreign delegations, the commemoration ceremonies of the 80th anniversary of the “Thiaroye Massacre”.
In his communication, the Prime Minister, after recalling the directives of the Head of State to the Government relating to the establishment of a framework of constructive and permanent social dialogue with the social partners and the unions, asked the Minister responsible for work and to the Ministers concerned to communicate to him, as soon as possible, the status of support for the points of demands accompanied by the schedule of meetings planned or already held with these structures between April and November 2024. On this basis, he will submit to Mr. President of the Republic the schedule of meetings that it intends to hold with the main trade union organizations, with a view to defining the contours of a new social stability pact.
Addressing the management of halls and markets following the fire that recently occurred at the central market of Thiès, the Prime Minister asked the Minister responsible for trade to evaluate the Market Modernization and Management Program (PROMOGEM) , with a view to proposing, as soon as possible, an action plan for the effective implementation of the responsibilities conferred on this structure. In this anticipation, he invited the Minister of the Interior and Public Security, in conjunction with the other competent Ministers and the administrative and local authorities, to take appropriate urgent measures, in particular the control and implementation of measures adequate civil protection.
Finally, the Prime Minister recalled the importance to be given by ministerial departments to the diligent implementation of directives issued by the Council of Ministers as well as interministerial councils and meetings, within the framework of results-based management.
UNDER COMMUNICATIONS FROM MINISTERS:
• The Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock made a communication on the preparation of the 2024/2025 agricultural marketing campaign.
UNDER THE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY TEXTS,
The Council considered and adopted:
• Under the Prime Minister’s Office:
The draft decree creating and setting the rules for the organization and operation of the Operational Office for Coordination and Monitoring of Projects and Programs (BOCS).
