A rampart against dropping out of school (4/6)

At the Modern Lycée de Rufisque, the school canteen contributes to improving the results of certain students and the fight against school abandonment.

Found in her office, Ms. Seynabou Sène Kandé, censor of the Modern Lycée de Rufisque expressed her satisfaction as to the quality of the meals served. A downside: the two pots reserved for their establishment are insufficient. “With a workforce of more than 2,700 students, we only have 250 dishes per day, it is insufficient,” she sighs. However, Ms. Kandé to specify that the canteen contributes to resolving an equation: the maintenance of students in school. According to her, the positive impact of the school canteen on students’ performance is undeniable, in particular on the students of the modern high school, from poor families.

According to her, many students abandon the school due to insufficient financial difficulties or academic results. But, “she reveals:” Thanks to the canteen, we can help these students stay educated. We are working in close collaboration with our social worker to identify these students and offer them free meals, funded by donations, school agents and the funds generated by Duplicate requests. This management considerably improves their academic results and reduces dropping out, ”she reassures.

Abundant in the same direction, Henry Diouf, animator of school canteens in the department of Rufisque, said that they have a positive impact on academic results. According to him, school canteens are an essential intrusive to boost performance indicators of the education system in Senegal. “Since we started the canteen, we have seen that the schools that are enlisted in the context of this project are making better results,” he said, pleading for their sustainability.

He invites local authorities, in particular local authorities to invest in the functioning of these structures. “We are called to leave next February and if the partner leaves and there is not a certain mobilization of the actors concerned, the project of school canteens is likely to fall into the water in this area.”

Aliou diouf