The Kédougou region has just taken a significant step in strengthening its educational and vocational training offerings. During an official visit, the President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, laid the foundation stone for two major infrastructure projects: the "Nation-Army for Quality and Equity" high school in Dar Salam, in the department of Salémata, and the Higher Institute of Professional Education (ISEP) in Bandafassi.

A modern high school costing over 10 billion FCFA in Dar Salam

In Dar Salam, the future "Nation-Army for Quality and Equity" high school will be built on a 10-hectare site at a total cost of 10,107,715,081 FCFA. The school is designed to accommodate 604 students in modern learning conditions. Construction is expected to take two years.

For local authorities, this infrastructure fills a significant gap in quality secondary schools in this part of the Salémata department.

The mayor of Dar Salam praised "an initiative that fulfills a long-standing expectation of the population regarding access to quality education." According to him, "this high school will significantly reduce the long distances students travel and offer a modern learning environment for local youth."

A 9 billion FCFA ISEP to connect training and local potential in Bandafassi

After Salémata, the Head of State traveled to Bandafassi where he laid the foundation stone for the Higher Institute of Professional Education (ISEP). Costing 9 billion FCFA, this institute will be built on a 19-hectare site.

Speaking at the event, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye placed these achievements within a clear vision of territorial rebalancing: "What we are bringing here is in line with our territorial doctrine of public policies. It is about justice and equity in the deployment of knowledge and vocational training."

He noted that 2026 has been declared the year of the social and solidarity economy and the year of youth, emphasizing the close link between training, self-employment, financing, and the processing of local products. "The ISEP in Bandafassi addresses this need for coordination between local resources, training, professional integration, and self-employment," he added.

The mayor of Bandafassi, for his part, welcomed "the establishment of an institution of this size, which will open up new opportunities for the young people of the department." He believes that "this institute will make it possible to train local skills adapted to the economic realities of the area."

A strong signal in support of the youth of Kédougou

According to local elected officials, these two major educational projects reflect a clear desire to correct territorial imbalances in access to education and vocational training.

In Dar Salam as in Bandafassi, the people see these construction projects as a concrete hope for the future of the youth, who have long faced a lack of suitable infrastructure.

With these foundation stone layings, the presidential visit will have left a strong imprint on the region, under the banner of equity, training and the empowerment of young people.