2026 Budget of the Ministry of National Education: 990.75 billion FCFA for a modern and inclusive school

The Finance and Budget Control Committee, expanded to include the Education, Youth, Sports and Recreation Committee, adopted the 2026 budget proposal for the Ministry of National Education (MEN) on Thursday, November 13th. The proposal was presented by Minister Moustapha Mamba Guirassy. With a budget of 990.75 billion FCFA, compared to 975.05 billion FCFA in 2025 (+15.7 billion FCFA, or +1.61%), this budget reaffirms education as a national priority, aligned with the National Development Strategy (SND 2025-2029) and the Economic and Social Recovery Plan (PRES – Jubbanti Koom).

Priority funding aims to consolidate basic and secondary education, while strengthening inclusion:

1. Elementary education: 275.78 billion FCFA, for universal schooling and the improvement of learning conditions;
2. General secondary education: 130.35 billion FCFA, supporting curriculum reform and infrastructure expansion;
3. General secondary education: 66.86 billion FCFA, facilitating the transition between cycles;
4. Preschool education: 10.33 billion FCFA, prioritizing early childhood;
5. Basic education for young people and adults: 1.57 billion FCFA, for literacy and second chance programs;
6. Ministerial oversight and coordination: 505.86 billion FCFA, essential for operations and staff remuneration.

Five strategic priorities for a high-performing school: The budget is structured around five priorities:

1. Promoting the teaching profession through continuing education and motivation;
2. Improve the school environment (infrastructure, safety, hygiene, educational resources);
3. Strengthening equity and inclusion for rural areas, Casamance, peripheries and students with disabilities;
4. Implement educational reforms (curriculum revisions, digitalization, new assessments);
5. Optimizing educational governance through digitization and internal control.

“The 2026 budget reflects our ambition to build a modern, equitable Senegalese school system connected to the realities of the contemporary world,” declared Minister Guirassy. It aims to prepare young people for the challenges of the 21st century through infrastructure upgrades, technology integration, and partnerships with local authorities and the private sector. “Investing in education is investing in Senegal’s future,” he concluded. This allocation, representing approximately 4% of the projected GDP for 2026, confirms education as a driver of social transformation, despite the budgetary constraints of the PRES (Pôle de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur – Higher Education and Research Program).