Improving Basic Education in Senegal

In Senegal, the government has outlined a 10-year plan for improving basic education. Two key priorities of this plan are: (1) increasing middle school enrollment so that at least half of all primary school graduates are able to finish middle school and (2) improving the quality of vocational training.

This partnership will support these goals through teacher training in information communication technologies (ICT) and health education, thereby increasing the capacity of middle school teachers to educate and engage middle school students.

The partners have established a service-learning program at Université Alioune Diop de Bambey (formerly Université de Bambey) using a train-the-trainer model and leveraged the program to deliver French-language print and video materials for service-learning training and health education, as well as to train to teachers at targeted middle schools to use technology to deliver health education. Access to computers, digital cameras, and software has led to a growing library of digital productions on locally relevant topics such as malaria, the dangers of tobacco use, hygiene, and others—produced by middle school students in Bambey and other nearby towns.  

In the coming year, the partners plan to build a virtual environment or website that will allow the partner institutions to collaborate and communicate, as well as to access and share the community service materials that have been developed.