11/02/2026
đšUCAD: An Urgent Call to Safeguard the Future of Students
By Keba Thiam, Third-Year English Student at UCAD
The Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (UCAD) is a prestigious institution, a symbol of knowledge and excellence in Senegal. Yet, behind this honorable image, the daily reality faced by students is worrying.
As a third-year English student, I feel compelled to draw the authoritiesâ attention to several problems that weaken our education and compromise our future.
Many believe that the main issue for students is only the scholarship system. Certainly, financial support is important, but the real problem goes far beyond that.
First, the failure rate has become alarming. Every year, many students repeat or abandon their studies. This is not always due to a lack of effort or ability. The current system sometimes gives the impression that success depends more on luck than merit. Yet, a university should be a place where effort, skill, and dedication are rewarded.
Second, the shortage of professors worsens the situation. Teachers are insufficient for the growing number of students. Classes are rushed, academic support is limited, and students often feel left to fend for themselves. How can anyone succeed without proper guidance?
On top of this, overcrowded lecture halls make learning extremely difficult. Some students attend classes standing, while others cannot even find a seat. Under these conditions, focusing and learning effectively becomes almost impossible. A university should not be merely a gathering spaceâit must be a true place of learning.
Today, urgent action is needed. Education is a pillar of a countryâs development. Investing in the university, hiring more professors, and improving infrastructure are not unnecessary expensesâthey are investments in Senegalâs future.
We are not asking for privileges. We are simply requesting decent, fair, and adequate study conditions for all students.
UCAD deserves better. Senegalese students deserve better.
Keba Thiam
Third-Year English Student
Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar
