Raising children in Senegal
Known for its welcoming people, year-round sun and natural landscapes, Senegal is a great place to move with your family, especially as its one of the safest countries in the region. If you have kids under the age of 16, looking for an appropriate school for them should be one of the first things you do. Senegal has a French-based education system with lessons taught in French in public schools. There are a number of private schooling opportunities in the major cities too, which are popular with expats. In addition, there is a wide range of nursery and childcare options in Senegal.
Senegal education system
The Senegalese state provides free, secular education to Senegalese students up to the age of 16. Although compulsory, this is not enforced in all areas, and many kids drop out at various stages depending on their family situation, especially in rural areas.
Public schools in Senegal are open to foreigners, although it's rare for the children of expats to attend them. The system starts in primary school (children aged 6-12) and then moves in to secondary school (12-16) and beyond.
French schools
There are a large number of French schools in Senegal. These are popular with expats because they follow the French curriculum, offer smaller class sizes and provide a broad range of afterschool activities.
Most of them are found in Dakar, but there are also French schools in Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor, Thies and Saly. They range from pre-school to primary school to lycée (college), covering all age groups from 3-16.
In general, the school year runs from the beginning of September to the beginning of July. They have two month summer holidays and have Christmas and Easter holidays too. During term time, the lessons tend to take place between 8 am and noon and then start again in the afternoon depending on what grade you are in.
These French schools are private and charge for enrollment, although many provide bursaries and scholarships depending on your situation.
One of the most well-known schools among expats is the Lycée Français Jean-Mermoz in Ouakam. Established in 1990, it is almost invisible from the main road and has an entirely enclosed campus. It has a large number of pupils and charges between €2,800-€4,100 per year depending on grade.
International schools
There are also bilingual schools in Dakar and some that teach in English, such as the International School of Dakar in Mermoz. Known as ISD, the school is popular among expats for known its diversity (60 countries represented), small class sizes (average is 15) and 8-acre enclosed campus. It follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) system and covers all schooling from elementary school to high school. Term times are mid-August to mid-June and fees range from $13,000-$27,000 per year.
There are also other international schools, such as Dakar Academy, which follows the American curriculum and has two campuses: one in Mamelles and a six-acre campus in Marristes.
Pre-school
Throughout the major cities, there are both public and private pre-school services, such as nurseries and creches. Pre-school tends to accept kids from the age of 18 months or 2 years, while creche services take kids from three months to three years.
Like secondary schools, pre-schools tend to be in French, but there are also a number of bilingual pre-schools throughout Dakar. For example, Happy Kids teaches in French, English and Chinese. The best way to find a pre-school is to consider where you are living and search online or speak to your country's embassy in the country.
Most expat households have a Femme de Ménage (a housekeeper), who cleans and sometimes cooks for the family. Some expats choose to leave their young kids with their Femme de Ménage during the day, while others set up private baby groups with their friends, where they pay for a qualified teacher to look after three or four children for the day.
Enrollment in Senegalese schools
The school year is between August/September and June/July. Each school will have different methods for enrolling a child, and therefore you should look on their website or contact the schools directly for advice. As a general rule, it's important to enrol your child at least two weeks before the start of term.
Child activities in Senegal
School only lasts for five days, and luckily there are lots of things to do on the weekends in Senegal that are family-friendly. Many expats enjoy heading to the Petite Cote, where they take advantage of the golden beaches and various activities, such as Bandia nature reserve.
In addition, there are lots of sporting opportunities to be enjoyed in Senegal. In Dakar, there are private beach clubs with swimming pools, private beaches and restaurants, which are popular when the weather is good, while others prefer heading to Sea Plaza for the bowling, pizzeria and arcade games complex.
Whether inside or outside, you'll easily find things to do.
Useful links:
