Thiès Education Review: Bac Results Decline, Dropout Rates Rise, Teacher Shortages Persist

Academic and administrative authorities in Thiès convened for the annual regional education and training review, highlighting a worsening situation in Senegal’s education sector. The meeting, held on Friday, April 17, 2026, focused on declining baccalauréat results, increasing student dropout rates, and a persistent deficit in teaching staff across the region’s 70 high schools.

According to Gana Sène, Inspector of Academics for Thiès, the decline in Bac results is not isolated but part of a nationwide trend. “Last year, there was a generalized decrease in Bac results, and nearly all academies experienced a drop,” Sène stated. He attributed the challenges in Thiès to the rapid expansion of the school network, which now includes 70 lycées, straining existing resources and infrastructure.

Sène emphasized that the difficulties are closely tied to the physical learning environment, inadequate scientific equipment, and other systemic factors. He similarly noted a concerning rise in student abandonments, particularly among secondary school learners, describing the trend as “generalized and worrying.” Even as the dropout rate in Thiès remains below the national average, officials stressed the need for targeted research to identify root causes.

“We must conduct a study to identify the underlying variables,” Sène said, pointing to socio-economic factors such as the prevalence of Jakarta motorcycles, early marriages, and teenage pregnancies as potential contributors requiring further investigation.

The review also underscored the urgent need for increased investment to match the pace of school densification. Without corresponding improvements in infrastructure, teacher recruitment, and learning materials, authorities warned that the quality of education would continue to deteriorate.

This regional assessment comes amid broader national efforts to improve educational outcomes, including the recent launch of the 25th edition of the National Week of Basic Education in Thiès, which focused on building safe, conducive learning environments and promoting civic values through initiatives like the New Initiative for Humanist Transformation of Education (NITHÉ).

As Thiès grapples with these interconnected challenges, education leaders call for coordinated action between government, communities, and partners to reverse declining performance and ensure equitable access to quality education for all students.