DAKAR, Senegal (BG) – Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has announced a transformative plan to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies into Senegal’s education curricula to boost student enrollment in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines.

On Friday, Sonko outlined the government’s vision to position Senegal as a technology hub in West Africa during his State of the Nation address to the National Assembly.

The strategy includes fostering an ecosystem that brings together researchers, start-ups, and industry leaders.

This collaborative approach is expected to attract investment in key technology areas such as AI, software development, cybersecurity, and big data management to drive innovation and economic growth.

In line with President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye’s education policy, the focus is on developing citizens grounded in African values and well-prepared to face today’s challenges.

The planned education system aims to provide every Senegalese, regardless of social status, with the general and specific skills necessary to contribute to the nation’s development.

The government’s ambitious plan includes enforcing a ten-year compulsory education policy to reduce the dropout rate to less than 10%.

This initiative will be supported by accredited alternative learning pathways and targeted social support, particularly for young girls.

Infrastructure upgrades, ongoing teacher training, and eliminating temporary shelters as classrooms by 2029 are also key components of the reform.

Senegal, an Emerging EdTech Hub

Senegal is emerging as an EdTech hub with significant efforts to integrate technology into education.

The EdTech hub has highlighted initiatives such as the National Education Information and Management System (SIMEN) and the School Radio and Television Broadcasting Division (DRTV), led by the Ministry of National Education.

These efforts aim to improve digital infrastructure and foster private-sector partnerships to support education technology.

These actions underscore Senegal’s commitment to building a modern, inclusive, and technologically advanced education system that prepares its youth for the demands of the 21st century.

As Senegal embarks on this journey, it sets an example for other African nations seeking to harness technology for educational and economic advancement.