The Head of State, His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar FAYE, presided over the weekly Council of Ministers meeting at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
At the start of his address, the President of the Republic informed the Council that he would set, by decree, the date for the opening of the first session of the newly elected National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution.
Addressing the issue of systemic transformation of public universities, the Head of State reminded the Prime Minister of the urgency of taking all appropriate measures to ensure the continuity of educational activities and social stability in public universities and higher education institutions. To this end, he requested the Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation and the Minister of Finance and Budget to implement, in coordination with the Rectors and Directors of University Social Services Centers, an emergency plan, under the supervision of the Prime Minister, for the timely delivery of all projects related to lecture halls, classrooms, restaurants, and dormitories undertaken by the State in public universities.
The President of the Republic pays particular attention to the management of the budgets of universities, social service centers, and the structures of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation. In this regard, he invited the Prime Minister to finalize an audit of university and social expenditures and to promptly initiate a process to optimize the functioning of universities and social service centers in collaboration with all stakeholders.
The Head of State emphasized, in this dynamic of renovating university governance, the importance of promoting, in synergy with the university community, a consensual economic model to ensure the proper functioning and consolidated performance of the university and research system.
Given the significant annual increase in student numbers, the Government, in agreement with the universities, must establish a new human capital management policy to better plan the orientation process for new graduates and set budgetary positions for teachers to adequately support them. He asked the Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation to consider, in a spirit of complementarity, the pooling of certain functions, taking into account the university map whose objectives must align with the strategy of strengthening territorial hubs.
To close this chapter, the President of the Republic invited the Minister in charge of Higher Education to accelerate, in collaboration with the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation, the finalization of the sectoral policy letter for Higher Education, Research, and Innovation. This new roadmap should promote the strategic repositioning of the higher education sector in public policies and its major role in preparing and enhancing national human capital, a priority axis of the "Senegal 2050 Vision."
The Head of State addressed the issue of strengthening the role of "daara" in the education and training system. The "daara" are one of the major pillars of children's education in our country.
However, these particular educational institutions are not fundamentally integrated into the official education system, whether in general, professional, or technical education. Therefore, he reminded the Government of the imperative to better integrate the "daara" into the official education system through a comprehensive mapping of the institutions, the creation of a status for the institutions and teachers, duly trained in specialized centers, and the development of vocational training for learners to facilitate their integration into socio-economic life. He urged the Minister of National Education to finalize, with all stakeholders, the essential and consensual reforms to modernize the functioning of the "daara." He also informed the Council that he would preside over the National "Daara" Day, which will be celebrated on Thursday, November 28, 2024.
Speaking about the care and inclusion of people living with disabilities and the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2024, the President of the Republic reminded the Government of the paramount importance of this significant vulnerable segment of the population in equity and social inclusion policies. He invited the Minister of Health and Social Action and the Minister of Family and Solidarity to strengthen the State's interventions in their favor. He asked the concerned Ministers to finalize the evaluation of the implementation of the Social Orientation Law No. 2010-15 of July 6, 2010, relating to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly the system of equal opportunity cards, and to prepare a new national strategy to support people living with disabilities.
Furthermore, the Head of State indicated to the Prime Minister the importance of facilitating, according to the diplomas obtained and established criteria, the recruitment and appointment of people living with disabilities in the public and semi-public sectors. The integration of people living with disabilities in private companies should also be encouraged through social dialogue with employers' organizations. He asked the Ministers in charge of Education, Vocational Training, and Higher Education to pay particular attention to schools, entities, and specialized centers dedicated to the education, training, and integration of people living with disabilities. Finally, the President of the Republic informed the Council that he would preside over the ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of the "Thiaroye Massacre" on Sunday, December 1, 2024, in the presence of numerous foreign delegations.
In his communication, the Prime Minister, after recalling the Head of State's directives to the Government regarding the establishment of a constructive and permanent social dialogue framework with social partners and unions, asked the Minister in charge of labor and the concerned Ministers to communicate to him, as soon as possible, the status of the handling of the points of demands accompanied by the schedule of meetings planned or already held with these structures between April and November 2024. Based on this, he will submit to the President of the Republic the schedule of meetings he intends to hold with the main trade unions to define the contours of a new social stability pact.
Addressing the management of halls and markets following the recent fire at the central market of Thiès, the Prime Minister asked the Minister in charge of commerce to evaluate the Market Modernization and Management Program (PROMOGEM) to propose, as soon as possible, an action plan for the effective implementation of the attributions conferred on this structure. In the meantime, he invited the Minister of the Interior and Public Security, in relation with the other competent Ministers and administrative and local authorities, to take urgent and appropriate measures, particularly for the control and establishment of adequate civil protection devices.
Finally, the Prime Minister reminded the importance for ministerial departments to diligently implement the directives issued by the Council of Ministers as well as the interministerial councils and meetings, within the framework of results-based management.
UNDER THE COMMUNICATIONS OF MINISTERS:
The Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Livestock made a communication on the preparation of the 2024/2025 agricultural marketing campaign.
UNDER LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY TEXTS,
The Council examined and adopted: Under the Prime Minister's Office: The draft decree creating and setting the rules of organization and functioning of the Operational Coordination and Monitoring Office for Projects and Programs (BOCS).
The Minister of Vocational Training, Government Spokesperson Amadou Moustapha Njekk SARRE