School infrastructure in Dakar: Key takeaways from Mayor Abass Fall's site visit

Following the postponement of the start of the school year due to severe flooding across the country, the Mayor of Dakar, Abass Fall, visited schools in the capital on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Accompanied by a municipal delegation, the mayor toured three key sites: the Grand Dakar Technical High School, the Ousmane Socé Diop Middle School in Dieuppeul, and the Adama Diallo Middle School in Mermoz.

This field visit had three objectives: to assess the state of the infrastructure, to verify the conformity of the new equipment deployed by the municipality, and to examine the actual conditions for the resumption of classes. Speaking at the end of the tour, Abass Fall welcomed the transformation of the school environment, noting that some of these establishments were in a state of advanced disrepair and insecurity before the municipal interventions. He commended the mobilization of the technical services and municipal teams working on the ground.

The Dakar regional education inspector, Cheikh Faye, also praised the quality of the work and equipment installed, stressing that these structural investments will increase capacity in middle and secondary education, a sector under pressure due to the continued rise in student numbers.

Towards a gradual return to the Adama Diallo Middle School

At the Adama Diallo Middle School in Mermoz, the renovation work is nearing completion, although some finishing touches remain. According to the regional education inspector, Cheikh Faye, a gradual reintegration of the students—currently relocated to the Mass Massaï site—is planned starting next week.

The timeline for this return remains contingent upon the final connection to water and electricity, as well as the completion of certain administrative and teaching blocks. This crucial step will put an end to the teachers' repeated travel between the two sites. For their part, the municipal technical services have committed to delivering the priority improvements by next week to ensure fully functional facilities.

Preservation of premises and investment prospects

Beyond the renovation projects, the issue of building maintenance and sustainability was central to the discussions. Abass Fall announced the imminent finalization of a public contract with companies specializing in cleaning and maintenance. He strongly urged school administrations, faculty, and local residents to manage the premises responsibly. Similarly, Cheikh Faye emphasized the absolute necessity of implementing regular preventative maintenance.

The City of Dakar doesn't intend to stop there. Other modernization projects are already planned for the Mamadou Ndiaye Middle School in Ouakam, the Ibrahima Thiaw Middle School in Parcelles Assainies, the Grand-Yoff Middle School, and the Aminata Sow Fall High School. The total budget for these investments will be revealed at the official handover of the facilities.