Some 181,000 candidates are expected to sit the 2026 baccalaureate session in Senegal, Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Guèye, director of the Baccalaureate Office, announced in Dakar, on the sidelines of the National Symposium on the restructuring of private education.
Speaking before education sector stakeholders, the director of the Baccalaureate Office stressed that the steady rise in candidate numbers — estimated at 181,000 for the 2026 session — reflects the growing momentum of mass access to secondary education, while posing significant organisational challenges.
“We are facing a regular increase in student numbers, which requires constant adaptation of our logistical and human resources,” he said, pointing in particular to the need for additional examination centers, invigilators and markers.
The remarks came as educational authorities and sector partners gather for the symposium to examine avenues for reforming private education, which has become a major player in Senegal’s educational system.
Discussions are focusing notably on regulation, improving the quality of teaching and better integrating the private sector into public education policies.
In Senegal, the baccalaureate remains a pivotal examination, marking the end of secondary education and the gateway to higher learning.
The 2026 session is expected to require substantial logistical resources to ensure its smooth organisation across the national territory.
TE/Sf/lb/as/APA