Senegal has just taken another step in modernizing its education system with the official launch of the Francophone Initiative for Distance Teacher Training (IFADEM). The ceremony, presided over this Thursday in Kédougou by the Minister of National Education, Moustapha Guirassy, marks the enrollment of 1,000 primary school teachers across the country.

IFADEM, a joint program of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF) and the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), aims to strengthen the teaching skills of teachers through a hybrid training system combining face-to-face and distance learning.

"A crucial initiative for the future of our school"

In his address, Moustapha Guirassy praised the strategic importance of the program, highlighting its direct impact on the quality of education and its pedagogical innovations. "The ceremony that brings us together in this prestigious location is of paramount importance to my department, the Ministry of National Education. Beyond the capacity building for teachers that IFADEM provides, this initiative allows thousands of professionals to envision a significant career path with the award of the internship completion certificate, which exempts them from the written and oral examinations of the Teaching Aptitude Certificate," he stated.

The minister also highlighted the program's digital dimension, one of its most significant advancements. "Thanks to its inherent flexibility and proactive approach, IFADEM has integrated information and communication technologies for education into the very heart of its training program, in line with the Digital Strategy for Education (SNE). Consequently, class time is no longer reduced, since training sessions now take place online, both synchronously and asynchronously. Teachers are thus offered an individualized learning path providing autonomy and a personalized pace of learning."

Towards a lasting collaboration with the ministry

The Minister of National Education emphasized the need to strengthen synergies between IFADEM and the various departments within the Ministry to guarantee the sustainability and effectiveness of continuing professional development initiatives. "Our ambition is to move towards a quality policy for National Education. We are investing heavily, we are training a great deal. Every school principal trained through IFADEM carries a vision, as do the Regional Education Inspector, the Ministry, and every teacher. We form a chain and must do everything we can to operationalize this vision."

Adapting training to local realities

Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of "academicizing" training programs, that is, integrating the cultural, economic, and social specificities of each region into the curriculum. "You can't be in Kédougou, in a mining area, without that being reflected in classroom activities or learning. If I find exactly the same approach in Matam, Dakar, or Kédougou, there's a problem," he declared.

Mr. Guirassy recalled that the ministry's vision is based on an endogenous approach to teaching, rooted in national values, but adapted to territorial contexts.

Kédougou, an exceptional heritage to be valued

Speaking of the natural and cultural richness of the host region, the minister emphasized the opportunity to integrate it more fully into educational content. "This is a region with an exceptional heritage. I believe Kédougou is likely to be the third World Heritage Site. Very few countries in the world have such a distinction. Nature has blessed us: an extraordinary diversity of stones and minerals, and that is very precious."

One more step towards an education resolutely focused on the future

The launch of IFADEM in Kédougou confirms the Ministry of National Education's commitment to modernizing teacher training, democratizing access to digital technology, and bringing educational content closer to local realities.

With 1,000 teachers already enrolled, Senegal is opening a new era for a more flexible, more adapted and more equitable education.