Scheduled for August 23, the "Sargal xam-xam" ceremony aims to recognize the best students. It is a civic initiative to make schools a niche for excellence, a framework for civic advancement. In this interview, Abdoulaye Koundoul, president of the "Sargal xam-xam" Committee, explains the challenges, expectations, and objectives.

You're organizing a Day of Excellence to celebrate the best students. What is the significance of this event, and what message do you want to convey?

The Sargal xam-xam ceremony is intended to celebrate the academic excellence of the brightest students within the Baye Niass Talibé Community affiliated with Cheikh Abdou Sané Gadji (Ctbn/Asg). It is an investment in the future of our children, an expression of our faith, and a tribute to the enlightened vision of Mawlana Cheikh Ibrahima Niass.

We invite our youth to excel in modern studies, while remaining rooted in our religious and cultural values. True to the thought of Baye Niass, this event aims to build strong bridges between tradition and modernity. Education is a duty, a tool, and a pillar for the progress of humanity.

It should be noted that the 2025 theme is: "Educating young people for a culture of responsibility and accountability."

How was the selection process for these students carried out?

Selection is based on objective criteria, based exclusively on academic results for the current year, verified directly with the institutions. No favoritism is tolerated; only merit prevails.

The education committee collects and centralizes school reports, verifies data compliance with schools, and deliberates collegially to ensure the greatest impartiality. All students who meet the established criteria are automatically considered.

The aim is to guarantee total transparency and to ensure that each selected student is a legitimate role model for their classmates.

What does this concept of “Sargal xam-xam” cover?

“Sargal xam-xam” is a Wolof expression meaning “honoring knowledge.” This concept reflects our desire to place knowledge and education at the heart of our community and societal values.

It's a way to show our respect for education and recognize the efforts of those who dedicate themselves to it. It's a practice rooted in our culture, which values sharing, mutual support, and the transmission of knowledge. A communion between the different strata of the community to carry the torch of excellence high.

We still see this distrust among students regarding science series. Do you have a system in place to attract children to these series?

Indeed, scientific fields sometimes arouse apprehension. We are aware of this tendency and we are working to combat it.

Moreover, the theme of our 2022 edition was: "Excellence in scientific fields as a guarantee for the development of our country."

The idea was to show that these disciplines open up real and rewarding perspectives, and that they can constitute a lever for both personal and collective development.

We also plan, in the near future, to implement a mitigation strategy by organizing meetings with scientists from the community, company visits and practical workshops to encourage vocations.

There is this desire to promote excellence: are the winners of the Concours général part of it?

General Competition winners are warmly invited to participate, provided they are registered by their parents or sponsored by a member of the community. We celebrate all talents, regardless of their areas of excellence.

We hope that the "Sargal xam-xam" will encourage more young people to enter national and international competitive examinations. To date, remarkable successes have been recorded, particularly in entering the Military Medical School.

After a few years of existence, what impact have your activities had on promoting excellence? Where did you get the idea of sponsoring the best students?

Although it is still premature to measure all the effects, we are already seeing a growing enthusiasm for education within the Ctbn/Asg and an increase in the number of students motivated by the prospect of winning prizes.

This initiative comes from our spiritual guide, who has always emphasized the importance of education as a driving force for development. To inspire young people with models of success and commitment, the Ctbn/Asg has chosen Colonel Moussa Barrière Diallo, a military doctor, as its patron, and Mrs. Ndèye Fatou Coundoul, a computer engineer, as its guest of honor.

In the long term, "Sargal xam-xam" aims to anchor education as a community priority, to forge an enlightened and responsible elite, and to contribute to the sustainable development of our community, our country and Africa.