Renovating Schools in Rural Areas of Senegal

With a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.49 (UNDP, 2015), Senegal continues to face significant challenges due to growing multidimensional poverty, despite the country’s recent economic growth.

When it comes to education, major inequalities persist: the level of educational attainment is low, and enrollment rates remain particularly weak beyond the primary level. Additionally, the precarious status of teachers leads to frequent social conflicts, which negatively impact the quality of education. This situation is further compounded by infrastructure issues, especially in rural areas, where many regions suffer from overcrowded classrooms.

The availability of school infrastructure close to family homes plays a key role in ensuring sustained school attendance. This helps explain the stark differences in enrollment and graduation rates between urban and rural areas, as well as among various regions. Distance to school is a critical factor, as primary education is rarely pursued unless the school is nearby. Moreover, three out of ten public schools lack latrines, fewer than four in ten are fenced, and nearly half do not have access to running water.

A Renovated Classroom

Renovation of a School in the Village of Bikol

With the goal of promoting school attendance—particularly in rural areas—this project aimed to improve the infrastructure of a school in the village of Bikol, located in the rural community of Diarère, Senegal. The 3,500 inhabitants of Bikol primarily rely on agriculture and livestock for their livelihood. The renovation of the school was made possible thanks to the support of the Jeankerber Foundation, with the aim of creating an ideal learning environment.

The renovation project included the reconstruction of the administration building, the rehabilitation of classrooms, the installation of sunshades for four classrooms, and maintenance work such as painting and electrical repairs.

Through this renovation, the project contributes to reducing disparities in educational infrastructure between urban and rural communities in Senegal. By creating a better-equipped learning environment, it will help support educational progress in the region.

Reconstructed Buildings

Rehabilitation and Expansion of Saint Pierre de Sassar School in the Fatick Province

The Saint Pierre de Sassar public primary school is a school of excellence, recognized as one of the top-performing schools in the region. Prior to its rehabilitation, the school's infrastructure did not provide an adequate environment for students’ learning.

Upon completion of the work, more than 400 students and 11 teachers will benefit from the improved facilities. This will help ensure better education quality and enhanced skill development. Since most of the students come from underprivileged families, additional support will be provided to subsidize school and healthcare costs for a quarter of the students.

The infrastructure before the start of the renovation work.