• Program tied to $233m education digital strategy
• Connectivity, device access remain hurdles

Senegal launched a nationwide program on Tuesday to train more than 100,000 teachers in digital skills and artificial intelligence, part of a $233 million plan to modernize education.

The initiative, paired with the distribution of computers to students in science tracks, marks the operational start of the country's 2025-2029 Digital Strategy for Education, according to authorities. The strategy, unveiled in January, carries a cost of 130 billion CFA francs (about $233 million).

The program stems from a partnership agreement signed in March 2025 between the MEN and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. It targets 105,000 teachers and administrative staff, aiming to fully integrate digital tools and AI into their teaching and administrative practices.

The training will be offered entirely online and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, including computers, tablets, and smartphones. It combines interactive content, self-paced modules, and certification assessments. The aim is to help teachers adapt their practice to technological change, use digital tools to enrich learning, raise student awareness of digital and AI issues, and strengthen their understanding of cybersecurity and data protection in schools.

"The ultimate aim of this initiative is to embed digital tools in the classroom, not only to modernize education, but also to build an ecosystem that meets the demands of the 21st century. More than a teacher-training program, it represents a paradigm shift that will enable Senegalese students to become creators and innovators of technology, rather than just consumers," the MEN previously stated. 

However, the effective implementation of the training faces several obstacles. Access to a compatible device, the cost of an internet connection, mastery of digital tools, and telecom coverage remain significant challenges. In 2023, nearly 40 percent of Senegalese did not have internet access, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Isaac K. Kassouwi