Teacher shortages and infrastructure deficits reported in West African schools

Educational institutions in Guinea and Senegal are facing significant challenges regarding staffing and infrastructure.

In the Donta district of Labé, Guinea, contract teacher Alpha Boubacar Baldé claims he was removed from his position after publicly requesting additional staff. Baldé reported that he was managing three pedagogical groups of approximately 80 students alone. He stated that his appeal for a second teacher, made during a school supply distribution ceremony, led to tensions with local education officials.

In Guédiawaye, Senegal, the Seydina Limamou Laye high school is struggling with a deficit of 25 teachers following retirements that went unfilled. Principal Aliou Diallo noted that the shortage, combined with a large student body of over 2,000 tenth-grade students, has pressured existing staff and impacted baccalaureate results. The school is currently undergoing a multi-year construction project to add classrooms, laboratories, and digital spaces to address these capacity issues.