A three-day seminar brings together stakeholders to design a new system.
The new system aims to ensure students receive university placement offers by August, shortly after taking their baccalaureate exams (starting July 2nd). Presently, students can wait six months for placement. The new system targets a one-month turnaround. Ideally, the academic year would run from the third Monday in October to the last Saturday of July in the following year. Recent years have seen significant disruptions to this schedule.
Minister Elhadj Abdourahmane Diouf acknowledges past disruptions due to strikes and walkouts by students, teachers, and administrative staff. University closures during the pandemic further complicated the situation. Unrest in recent years is also cited as a contributing factor.
The government promises enhanced institutional supervision to prevent past disruptions. The Ministry plans to recruit additional professors to support the implementation of the new system. Minister Diouf urges students and teachers to show flexibility and adapt to a potentially compressed academic calendar.
This initiative by Senegal’s new leadership signifies a commitment to a more efficient and predictable university system. The seminar’s outcome will be crucial in determining the specific strategies to achieve these goals.
ODL/ac/abj/APA