• Senegal to reintegrate 15,000 out-of-school children via PAPSE project

• Programme targets Sedhiou, Dakar and Diourbel regions

• Initiative backed by 15 billion CFA francs and World Bank support

Elhadji Saliou Ngom, coordinator of the Education System Performance Improvement Project (PAPSE), announced on Friday, Jan. 23, that nearly 15,000 out-of-school children will soon be brought back into general education or vocational training. The Ministry of National Education said the initiative, known as Dellusil, will focus mainly on the regions of Sedhiou, Dakar and Diourbel.

Ngom made the announcement after a meeting of the PAPSE steering committee, chaired by the ministry’s secretary general, Papa Malick Ndao. The committee reviewed last year’s results, assessed the project’s performance and approved the priorities set for 2026. Officials also reiterated their commitment to speed up the implementation of planned measures.

Reforms under the project include an overhaul of curricula and the expansion of bilingual education in national languages through the MOHEBS (Harmonized Model of Bilingual Education in Senegal). Other measures include support for 1,098 daaras, the integration of digital tools into learning, and performance-based agreements with the LYNAQ (Nation-Army High Schools for Quality and Equity).

The PAPSE project has been allocated 15 billion CFA francs (about $27.4 million) under the 2026 Finance Act. It is also supported by the World Bank and involves the participation of the ministries of Finance, Vocational Training and Higher Education.

The initiative comes as school dropout rates remain a persistent challenge in Senegal despite progress in access to education. According to the National Education System State Report (RESEN) published in 2025, nearly 38% of children aged 6 to 16 are still outside the school system, with wide territorial disparities. The World Bank says that in 2024, 24.5% of primary-age children were out of school. In the capital, the NGO PLAY International reports that only 68% of urban children attend school, affected by poverty, youth labour and the informal economy.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou