Gender and school attendance in elementary education in Senegal

Despite the importance attached to education and the desire to promote it as stated throughout the century Senegal is in a certain way lagging in the subject. The gross enrollment ratio (GER) still remains low particularly for the female population. It was 61.7 percent in 1997/98 with 55.5 percent among girls and 68 percent among boys. This means that more than one third of Senegalese children who should have been in school were not and that the majority of these children were girls. Furthermore the systems internal efficacy is low since a large number of the children enrolled in school repeat years or even abandon their studies. The goal of this study is to analyze the obstacles to school attendance both in terms of access maintenance and performance as well as the disparities between girls and boys in elementary education in Senegal. It shall also offer solutions which could reduce obstacles. To reach these objectives a three-month survey was conducted in the regions of Saint-Louis and Kaolack. Based on conclusions drawn from the data collected in the field proposed choices for reforms were made. The financial implications of these reforms in terms of costs and resources were simulated for the next fifteen years (1998-2013). (excerpt)