Teach For Senegal COVID-19 Action Pledge
School is more than a
physical building—
It is the heart of a community, the glue that holds us together daily. School plays a fundamental role in our broader society, supporting children to thrive and flourish in every area of their lives. It sets the foundation of who we are as Senegalese citizens and how we understand ourselves and our rights within the broader globalized world.
Throughout the COVID19 Pandemic, we are committing to the following to ensure a safe and productive environment for our fellows, staff, and students.
Extensive teacher training
When schools closed back in March and transitioned to remote learning, one of the biggest challenges the Senegalese Ministry of Education faced was finding teachers who were trained to teach remotely. Teachers who lack training cannot provide quality education. As technology will be at the forefront of how we learn going forward, we need teachers who are highly trained and upskilled. The curriculum will have to be revised to reflect local realities in the communities it serves.
Sensitivity that technology can both enable and exclude learners
Technology has emerged as a critical lifeline for us all during the pandemic. It has enabled schools to contact and engage with pupils in myriad ways and on an array of platforms. However, it has also excluded those who do not have the resources (laptop, Wi-Fi, electricity) or digital literacy they need to engage meaningfully. This paradox reflects a lack of equity that requires urgent attention.
Collaboration between schools and support services
Schools are at the epicenter of our children's lives. Outside of familial and care networks, schools are where children spend most of their time negotiating their childhoods. Schools become essential sites for identifying and supporting any additional needs pupils might have. To ensure cohesion to support children's needs, it is imperative that adequate support services are available for children and that these services adopt a collaborative and integrative approach with schools.
Ensuring that learning is fun to foster creativity and innovation
Engaging children in fun, self-directed activities allows them to explore, take risks, build confidence, and learn new skills, ultimately fostering their creativity and innovation. The importance of creativity and innovation has emerged as especially crucial for problem-solving during the pandemic.
We mustn’t lose playfulness or fun in education and school.
Local Languages Matter
French is the official language of Senegal, but a significant number of Senegalese do not understand French. Children are more active, think more critically, and create an entirely different classroom atmosphere when taught in their mother tongue. Additionally, teaching in local languages enables parents to be more engaged at home where the education needs to extend to.
Community-based mental health support
Although mental and emotional health is not a part of Senegalese curriculum, TFS provides comprehensive mental health support to its fellows, existing teachers, and students.
Rather than looking at schools and school leaders for the answer, it is time for us to reach out to the communities and ask what we can do to help support schools and teachers. Coming together in this way can only help support a flourishing ecosystem for children to learn.
