Senegal has postponed the start of the school year nationwide until Monday, 12 October, following heavy rainfall and flooding that damaged schools and disrupted communities.
Pupils were originally due to return on Wednesday, 7 October. The Education Ministry announced the postponement on Tuesday, according to Senegal’s public news agency, APS.
The ministry said the decision reflected the developing weather situation and the need to protect pupils while cleaning, sanitation, and repairs continued at school buildings.
Heavy rain disrupts daily life
Torrential rain affected several regions from Friday through Monday, leaving parts of Dakar paralysed, according to Africanews’ report with AFP.
At least five people were reported dead. Authorities were clearing flooded roads, restoring traffic, and working to protect water and electricity supplies while providing emergency assistance.
Africanews also reported forecasts of further rainfall. Senegal’s rainy season usually extends from June into October.
In its earlier report on the flooding, Reuters said the Interior Ministry had reported deaths and injuries in Dakar and Matam, alongside a building collapse in Kaolack.
The national meteorological agency, ANACIM, recorded 142mm of rain in 24 hours in Rufisque and Ranerou, while Dakar’s Yoff district recorded 138mm.
Schools need cleaning and repairs
A separate APS report on the Fatick region illustrates the pressure on education facilities.
Citing a document prepared by regional education officials and the department responsible for maintaining school buildings, APS reported that 77 establishments had been affected during the 2026 rainy season.
They included three preschools, 44 primary schools, and 30 middle or secondary schools. The reported damage included flooded classrooms, schoolyards, and toilets, roofs damaged by wind, deteriorating buildings, and collapsed boundary walls.
Those figures cover the rainy season’s impact in Fatick. They are not a nationwide total or a count limited to the latest weekend’s storms.
A nationwide change
The new reopening date applies across Senegal, according to the ministry announcement reported by APS.
The ministry called for education officials and other partners to work together so teaching could resume in suitable conditions. The delay provides additional time for preparations, but setting a date alone does not establish that every affected building has been restored.
Trivane View
Children should return to classrooms that are safe, clean, and ready for teaching. Authorities need to check damaged buildings, toilets, and routes to school before reopening.
Families also need clear information about schools that remain unusable and any temporary arrangements. Once lessons resume, pupils who have lost learning time should receive support to catch up.
