Senegal Government Signs Agreement with Education Unions to End School Crisis

On April 16, 2026, the Senegalese government signed a protocol agreement with the G7 coalition of education unions, marking the end of weeks-long disruptions in the country’s education sector. The agreement, finalized after intense negotiations at the Primature, aims to save the 2025-2026 academic year by addressing core union demands related to working conditions, salaries, and administrative reforms.

The G7 coalition comprises the seven most representative unions in Senegal’s education and training sector: CUSES, CUSESA, SAEMSS, SELS, SIINS, SNEAS/FC, and UDEN. According to official reports, the agreement includes provisions for the implementation of decrees concerning “decisionnaire” teachers and reforms linked to retirement at age 65.

Minister of Public Service and Public Service Reform Olivier Boucal acknowledged the challenging negotiation process, stating that both sides demonstrated responsibility despite difficult moments. CUSES General Secretary Aliou Diouf emphasized that the union prioritized national interests throughout the talks, noting that past agreements often failed due to lack of implementation.

The Prime Minister’s office confirmed that Premier Ousmane Sonko personally supervised the discussions, reflecting the high-level commitment to resolving the crisis. The Ministry of National Education, led by Minister Moustapha Mamba Guirassy, coordinated the talks in collaboration with the Ministries of Finance and Public Service.

A key component of the agreement is a social peace clause prohibiting strikes for a defined period to ensure stability in the school calendar. This measure seeks to secure the academic year and facilitate a swift return to normal operations in educational institutions.

Government officials stressed the importance of rigorous monitoring of commitments to prevent recurrence of the cyclical strikes that have historically plagued the sector when agreements were not honored.

Details of the Agreement

The protocol addresses several critical areas identified by unions during the negotiations:

• Improvement of working conditions for educators
• Salary revalorization
• Administrative management of teaching careers
• Implementation of recent decrees regarding decisionnaire teachers
• Retirement reform provisions

The agreement was signed at the Primature on Thursday, April 16, 2026, following days of intensive talks that included technical sessions involving the High Council for Social Dialogue, the Social Dialogue Committee of the Education Sector, and civil society organizations such as COSYDEP and CNEPT.

Government Commitment and Oversight

Senior government figures were directly involved in the resolution process. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko were cited as having provided direct oversight, with the Prime Minister personally supervising the negotiations. The government highlighted the “shared spirit of responsibility” between both parties as essential to reaching the compromise.

The Ministry of National Education coordinated the negotiations, working closely with the Ministries of Finance and Public Service to ensure the agreement’s feasibility and proper implementation. This inter-ministerial approach aimed to address both the educational and financial aspects of the unions’ demands.

Impact on the Academic Year

The primary objective of the agreement is to save the 2025-2026 academic year, which had been threatened by prolonged strikes and classroom disruptions. By establishing a framework for social peace and addressing the root causes of the conflict, the government and unions aim to restore normalcy to Senegal’s education system.

Officials emphasized that the agreement’s success depends on strict adherence to its terms by both parties. The inclusion of a strike moratorium for a defined period is intended to provide the stability needed to complete the academic calendar without further interruptions.

Context and Significance

This agreement represents a significant development in Senegal’s social dialogue within the education sector, which has experienced frequent strikes due to unresolved grievances. The involvement of the highest levels of government, including the President and Prime Minister, underscores the priority placed on resolving this crisis.

The protocol builds on previous attempts at negotiation but seeks to avoid past pitfalls by focusing on implementation and monitoring. As noted by union leaders, the failure to honor past agreements has often led to renewed strikes, making the monitoring mechanism a crucial component of this deal.

By addressing both immediate concerns and longer-term structural issues such as retirement reform and the status of decisionnaire teachers, the agreement aims to create a more sustainable framework for labor relations in Senegal’s education sector.

Senegal Government Signs Agreement with Education Unions to End School Crisis

On April 16, 2026, the Senegalese government signed a protocol agreement with the G7 coalition of education unions, marking the end of weeks-long disruptions in the country’s education sector. The agreement, finalized after intense negotiations at the Primature, aims to save the 2025-2026 academic year by addressing core union demands related to working conditions, salaries, and administrative reforms.

The G7 coalition comprises the seven most representative unions in Senegal’s education and training sector: CUSES, CUSESA, SAEMSS, SELS, SIINS, SNEAS/FC, and UDEN. According to official reports, the agreement includes provisions for the implementation of decrees concerning “decisionnaire” teachers and reforms linked to retirement at age 65.

Minister of Public Service and Public Service Reform Olivier Boucal acknowledged the challenging negotiation process, stating that both sides demonstrated responsibility despite difficult moments. CUSES General Secretary Aliou Diouf emphasized that the union prioritized national interests throughout the talks, noting that past agreements often failed due to lack of implementation.

The Prime Minister’s office confirmed that Premier Ousmane Sonko personally supervised the discussions, reflecting the high-level commitment to resolving the crisis. The Ministry of National Education, led by Minister Moustapha Mamba Guirassy, coordinated the talks in collaboration with the Ministries of Finance and Public Service.

A key component of the agreement is a social peace clause prohibiting strikes for a defined period to ensure stability in the school calendar. This measure seeks to secure the academic year and facilitate a swift return to normal operations in educational institutions.

Government officials stressed the importance of rigorous monitoring of commitments to prevent recurrence of the cyclical strikes that have historically plagued the sector when agreements were not honored.

Details of the Agreement

The protocol addresses several critical areas identified by unions during the negotiations:

• Improvement of working conditions for educators
• Salary revalorization
• Administrative management of teaching careers
• Implementation of recent decrees regarding decisionnaire teachers
• Retirement reform provisions

The agreement was signed at the Primature on Thursday, April 16, 2026, following days of intensive talks that included technical sessions involving the High Council for Social Dialogue, the Social Dialogue Committee of the Education Sector, and civil society organizations such as COSYDEP and CNEPT.

Government Commitment and Oversight

Senior government figures were directly involved in the resolution process. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko were cited as having provided direct oversight, with the Prime Minister personally supervising the negotiations. The government highlighted the “shared spirit of responsibility” between both parties as essential to reaching the compromise.

The Ministry of National Education coordinated the negotiations, working closely with the Ministries of Finance and Public Service to ensure the agreement’s feasibility and proper implementation. This inter-ministerial approach aimed to address both the educational and financial aspects of the unions’ demands.

Impact on the Academic Year

The primary objective of the agreement is to save the 2025-2026 academic year, which had been threatened by prolonged strikes and classroom disruptions. By establishing a framework for social peace and addressing the root causes of the conflict, the government and unions aim to restore normalcy to Senegal’s education system.

Officials emphasized that the agreement’s success depends on strict adherence to its terms by both parties. The inclusion of a strike moratorium for a defined period is intended to provide the stability needed to complete the academic calendar without further interruptions.

Context and Significance

This agreement represents a significant development in Senegal’s social dialogue within the education sector, which has experienced frequent strikes due to unresolved grievances. The involvement of the highest levels of government, including the President and Prime Minister, underscores the priority placed on resolving this crisis.

The protocol builds on previous attempts at negotiation but seeks to avoid past pitfalls by focusing on implementation and monitoring. As noted by union leaders, the failure to honor past agreements has often led to renewed strikes, making the monitoring mechanism a crucial component of this deal.

By addressing both immediate concerns and longer-term structural issues such as retirement reform and the status of decisionnaire teachers, the agreement aims to create a more sustainable framework for labor relations in Senegal’s education sector.