Private HE sector wants cut of undergraduate enrolments

The association representing private higher education institutions in Senegal, CUDOPES, has called on the government to include the private sector when new students are given guidance for university enrolment, to achieve better academic organisation and reduce the failure rate in public universities “which cannot satisfy demand on their own”.

CUDOPES, the Cadre Unitaire des Organisations des Etablissements Privés Supérieur du Sénégal, met in Dakar in advance of a higher education convention in December, to validate its proposals concerning the contribution private higher education could make, the Agence de Presse Sénégalaise (APS) reported.

“We request that new undergraduates be directed to the private [sector] to improve control of the academic calendar and reduce the failure rate in the public universities, which cannot satisfy demand on their own,” said CUDOPES coordinator Jean Marie Sène.

At present, he said, there were three year-groups of students in the public universities who had “difficulties achieving a bachelor degree in three years, but take at least four years”, meaning “costs for the state, and an enormous loss for the students”.

He said the failure rate was very high in public institutions, which was the opposite of the private sector where the success rate was “nearly 90%, if not more”, APS reported.

Sène said CUDOPES was committed to supporting the president and government in the “systemic transformation and strengthening of human capital planned by the new public political frame of reference, Vision Senegal 2050,” reported APS.

He sought to reassure students’ parents, emphasising that the degrees and qualifications authorised by private establishments were recognised both nationally and internationally, reported APS.

The association agreed it should propose that the ministry of higher education, research and innovation should contribute FCFA4.5 billion (about US$7.4 million) in the 2025 draft budget, towards settling the debts of the private institutions caused by ending guidance of students towards the private sector. — Compiled by Jane Marshall.

This article is drawn from local media. University World News cannot vouch for the accuracy of the original reports.