• Senegal launched construction of a CFA 3.54 billion ($6.3 million) modern high school in Passy.
• The facility will accommodate 1,500 students on a five-hectare site.
• Senegal faces a nationwide shortage of more than 46,600 classrooms.

On January 1, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko laid the foundation stone for a modern high school in Passy. The government set the project cost at CFA3.54 billion, or about $6.3 million.

The project reflects the state’s strategy to expand access to quality secondary education and better prepare young people for labor market demands. Government officials and local stakeholders attended the launch ceremony.

According to information published on the Facebook page of the Ministry of National Education, the construction site covers five hectares and will accommodate up to 1,500 students.

The school will include 24 classrooms, an administrative building, a documentation and information center, a computer room, laboratories, an amphitheater, a recreation and gymnasium facility, an infirmary, sports grounds, and sanitation blocks.

The project incorporates bioclimatic design principles and integrates information and communication technologies while ensuring universal accessibility.

The initiative aligns with the Senegal 2050 Reference Framework and the National Strategy for the Systemic Transformation of Education. These policies aim to align education outcomes with labor market needs.

The Ministry of National Education will coordinate with the Ministry of Infrastructure to ensure construction quality and compliance with project timelines.

The project comes as Senegal faces a structural shortage of school infrastructure nationwide.

According to the 2025 assessment by the Directorate of School Construction, the country lacks about 46,632 classrooms.

Even in areas with existing schools, limited access to basic infrastructure such as electricity and water continues to restrict access to education and undermine teaching quality.

These constraints compound the challenge of out-of-school children. According to the State of the National Education System report published in June 2025, about 38% of Senegalese children aged 6 to 16 remain out of school.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum