Senegal president moves to strengthen Qur’anic education nationwide, reaffirms support for traditional Islamic schools
Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening Qur’anic education and integrating traditional Qur’anic schools into the country’s national education system.
Speaking during the National Day of Daaras on March 31, 2026, Faye emphasised the historical role of daaras — traditional Qur’anic schools — in transmitting knowledge, instilling ethical values and shaping Senegal’s national identity.
According to the Senegalese presidency, the government’s plans include improving learning conditions, strengthening the status of Qur’anic teachers and incorporating daaras into wider education reforms.
The president also stressed the importance of preserving Senegal’s educational and cultural heritage while adapting traditional institutions to modern educational needs.
However, claims circulating on social media that the government has made the Qur’an a compulsory core subject in all public schools are misleading. Senegal’s national news agency, APS, debunked the allegation on February 27, 2026.
The government’s stated direction is to strengthen and modernise Qur’anic schools, rather than announce the Qur’an as a compulsory core subject across all public schools.
Source: Senegalese Presidency and Agence de Presse Sénégalaise (APS).
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