Teacher shortages, dilapidated classrooms: the challenges of the start of the school year in Bignona

As the start of the 2026-2027 school year approaches, the Bignona department faces a significant challenge: accommodating over 80,000 students in a context marked by staff shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and the effects of severe weather. Despite these constraints, education authorities are committed to building upon the excellent results achieved last year.

The countdown has begun for the start of the school year in the Bignona department. Gathered within the framework of the preparatory Departmental Development Committee (CDD), education stakeholders reviewed the state of the local education system in order to identify priorities and urgent needs just days before classes resume.

The figures demonstrate the importance of the education sector in this department, which remains one of the most populated in the Ziguinchor region. For the 2026-2027 school year, more than 80,000 students are expected in public and community schools. Early childhood education comprises 14,160 children, primary education 43,955 students, and middle school 22,160 students.

This high demand for schooling, however, highlights the limitations of available resources. In preschools, the educational staff remains insufficient, with a shortage of 66 educators. The situation is also concerning in elementary schools, where nearly 200 additional teachers are needed to ensure optimal coverage of educational needs. The education authorities also report the absence of three inspectors, a situation that puts a strain on administrative and pedagogical support.

Beyond staffing, infrastructure is a major concern. More than 520 temporary shelters are still in use in the department's schools, exposing thousands of students to the elements each year. Lack of water points, sanitation facilities, and school furniture also continues to hinder improvements in the learning environment.

The shortage of equipment remains particularly evident, with several thousand desks and benches still needed in schools. The identified needs exceed 8,000 units, despite the efforts already made by local authorities and partners.

The heavy rains and strong winds recorded during the rainy season exacerbated existing difficulties. In Diaboudior, a classroom was completely destroyed after a tree fell on it. In Dibarang, a three-classroom building lost its roof following a strong gust of wind. Other schools, notably the Ouonck and Coubalan secondary schools, also sustained damage requiring swift intervention before the start of the new school year.

To address these numerous challenges, several support programs are underway. School furniture distribution operations have been carried out, notably in the municipality of Bignona where 550 desks and benches were delivered to public schools. Construction, renovation, and fencing projects for schools are also being funded with support from the Emergency Program for the Modernization of Border Areas and Territories (PUMA), international cooperation partners, and local authorities.

Despite this challenging context, the academic performance recorded during the 2025-2026 school year is a source of satisfaction for education officials. Pass rates on the CFEE (Certificate of Completion of Elementary Education) exceeded 92% in both districts of the department, while the results of the PGL Dictation confirm the positive trend observed in fundamental learning.

Building on these achievements, school authorities intend to continue their efforts to further improve student performance. The goal is not only to increase exam pass rates, but also to strengthen student participation in excellence competitions, olympiads, and science competitions.

In Bignona, the challenge of the 2026-2027 school year goes beyond simply resuming classes. It is about guaranteeing tens of thousands of children decent learning conditions, in a context where the mobilization of the State, local authorities, partners and educational communities appears more essential than ever.