Tchanlandjou Kpare, Regional Director of Ashoka Sahel, Tuesday outlined key aspects for reforming Senegal’s educational system.
Speaking at the opening of the Change-Makers Summit, held from February 12 to 13, 2025, in Dakar, Mr. Kpare emphasised that “education can no longer be limited to the mere transmission of academic knowledge. The 21st century demands an education capable of shaping critical, creative citizens and change-makers.”
He described this as a true “literacy of change,” which includes the ability for individuals to understand the challenges of their time, imagine innovative solutions, and implement concrete actions.
In his speech, a copy of which was obtained by APA, Mr. Kpare also highlighted remarks made recently by education minister Moustapha Mamba Guirassy, who stressed the need for a profound reform of Senegal’s educational system to better adapt it to the demands of a rapidly changing world.
“This reform must involve revising curricula, modernizing infrastructure, and, above all, better integrating information and communication technologies to prepare our youth for the challenges of the labour market,” the Ashoka Sahel Regional Director noted.
According to him, the reform should also include curriculum revisions, infrastructure modernisation, and greater integration of information and communication technologies to equip young people with the necessary tools for the workforce.
“In this transformative process,” he continued, “pedagogy must evolve. Education should no longer be a simple transfer of knowledge from teacher to student. It must become a space for dynamic and creative interaction, where each individual becomes an active participant in their own learning and plays a part in transforming their environment.”
In this context, he emphasised the central role of new technologies, particularly digitalisation. These tools help connect young people to educational resources and professional opportunities in a faster and more accessible manner.
Mr. Kpare also recalled the launch of the New Initiative for the Humanistic Transformation of Education (NITHE) in Senegal, an innovative scheme led by the Ministry of National Education.
This initiative aims to profoundly rethink the country’s educational model, adapt it to the needs of a changing society, and prepare young people to be active agents of change.
TE/lb/as/APA