Educate girls and fight poverty in Senegal

News from Women’s Global Education Project Senegal:

Scholars Succeed Academically

• Congratulations to our WGEP elementary scholars, 100% of whom passed into the next grade for the 2011-2012 school year
• Congratulations also to our 37 elementary scholars (71 percent) who placed at the top of their class
• Special congratulations to elementary scholars Aminata and Marie who won a local poetry competition in Sokone village organized by the Keurgui Association
• And congratulations to the 53 middle school scholars (91 percent) who passed their grade-level exams for promotion into the next grade!

Secondary School National Entrance Exam Revived

WGEP Senegal has just learned that the Senegalese government has reinstated the notoriously difficult 6eme grade-level national exam, used to weed out grammar school students before entering secondary school. The exam is especially challenging for students from poor, rural families who have fewer resources and less access to the quality education and academic tutoring needed to pass the exclusive examinations. WGEP Senegal remains committed to helping our scholars succeed at these exams so they can continue their education to the highest level they are capable of.
 

Community Awareness Programs Making a Difference

We have also learned the encouraging news that nationally, the number of girls going to school in Senegal is on the rise! This is a testament to the community awareness and outreach programs run by organizations like WGEP, and that our programs are making a difference. On a local level, we continue to see increases in the number of girls in school in the villages where our programs operate, and we are seeing more and more support for girls’ education in the community. For example, earlier this year, one of our secondary scholars from Karang village, Adele (name has been changed), was pressured into an early marriage, which normally would mean that she would drop out of school in order to tend to her house and start a family. However, because of the work that WGEP has done in Karang to raise awareness and support for girls’ education, the many members of the community rose up in support of Adele staying in school so that she can finish her education. Even the local police brigade spoke up for her! As a result, Adele was able to stay in school.

We thank you again for your support. We are making a difference, and we could not do this work without you!

Links:

• Learn more about the work of WGEP in girls' education.