Senegal to connect 8,000+ primary schools via Starlink 🇸🇳 🛰️

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Ahead of the 2026-2027 school year, Senegal is stepping up efforts to digitize its education system. The government plans to connect more than 8,000 primary schools to the internet through Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service. The initiative is meant to narrow the digital gap between regions and give schools better access to online resources.

Closing the digital gap in schools 🌐

In many Senegalese primary schools, access to digital resources and services remains a real challenge for teachers, students, and families. To address that, authorities are now turning to satellite connectivity.

The project comes just weeks before the 2026-2027 school year and fits into a broader push for universal connectivity. That ambition was underscored by the official launch, in Kédougou, of a program to connect one million Senegalese residents for free, with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and several ministers in attendance. Connecting schools is meant to help close the gap for institutions in the least-covered areas.

Digital resources for teachers and students 📚

For Education Minister Moustapha Guirassy, connecting schools brings several benefits. A school with internet access can give teachers easier access to teaching materials, expand learning opportunities for students, and improve the use of digital platforms developed by the ministry.

At a gathering in Saly focused on education technology, the minister also made the case for better integrating AI into learning across Africa. The stakes go beyond simply providing an internet connection — authorities also want to build up the skills needed to actually use these tools.

Building a more digital education ecosystem ⚙️

The school connectivity project was discussed as part of a national strategic workshop held in mid-August 2026. Over three days, participants worked on building an integrated, interoperable, secure digital ecosystem better suited to users’ needs.

At the same event, Guirassy also opened a workshop in Saly dedicated to the rollout of digital education platforms. Among the measures planned is the digitization of school enrollment through the Planète 3 platform, expected to launch as early as next school year.

105,000 teachers and staff to be trained 🤖

Training is another key part of the strategy. According to the ministry, some 105,000 teachers and education staff are expected to gradually acquire digital skills.

That training will notably cover the use of artificial intelligence. The goal is to make sure improved connectivity comes paired with a genuine upskilling of people working in the education system.

Cutting the cost of accessing platforms 💰

Finally, the Ministry of Education plans to whitelist its platforms’ web addresses. The measure is meant to reduce the data costs students, teachers, and families face when using the ministry’s digital services.

Through connecting thousands of schools, training staff, and cutting the cost of accessing platforms, Senegal is looking to make technology a more integrated part of everyday life in its education system.

Do you think connecting more than 8,000 schools to the internet will genuinely improve the quality of education in Senegal? Why or why not?