The Senegalese Ministry of Education and the National Office for the Fight Against Corruption (OFNAC) have launched an initiative to incorporate integrity and corruption prevention modules into the country's education system. The program, part of the New Initiative for Humanist Transformation of Education (NITHE), aims to instill values of integrity, responsibility, justice, citizenship, and respect for public goods in students. The initiative was launched on October 1, 2026, in Dakar by Education Minister Moustapha Mamba Guirassy.
According to Minister Guirassy, building an integrated society starts with education. He believes that preventing corruption cannot solely rely on control and punishment mechanisms but also requires addressing behaviors and representations by instilling values such as "Jom," "Ngor," and "Kersa" from a young age. The program seeks to define teaching content, adapt pedagogical approaches, and establish training and accompaniment modalities for stakeholders, including teachers, students, and parents.
The initiative involves collaboration between the Ministry of Education and OFNAC to develop and implement the integrity education program. The goal is to move beyond simply introducing new modules and instead foster a culture of integrity that influences behaviors and practices within schools and the broader society. This effort requires the involvement of various stakeholders, including state institutions, teachers, students, parents, local communities, social partners, civil society, and technical and financial partners.
The program will focus on developing age-specific content and approaches tailored to different educational cycles. This will enable the integration of integrity education into the curriculum in a way that is relevant and effective for students at various stages of their educational journey. By doing so, the initiative aims to create a culture of integrity that permeates not only schools but also the wider community.
Minister Guirassy emphasized that the construction of an integrated society begins with education. He highlighted the importance of prevention in the fight against corruption, which involves cultivating values and behaviors that promote integrity and probity. The partnership between the Ministry of Education and OFNAC reflects a commitment to addressing corruption through education and awareness-raising.
The initiative has the potential to contribute to a broader cultural shift in Senegal by promoting values of integrity, responsibility, and citizenship. By engaging various stakeholders, including teachers, students, and parents, the program can help create a society that values probity and integrity. This, in turn, can help prevent corruption and promote a more just and equitable society.
The launch of the integrity education initiative marks an important step towards promoting a culture of integrity in Senegal. The program's success will depend on the effective collaboration between the Ministry of Education, OFNAC, and other stakeholders. By working together, they can help create a society that values integrity and promotes probity, ultimately contributing to a more just and equitable society.
Key points
- The Senegalese Ministry of Education and OFNAC have launched an initiative to integrate integrity and corruption prevention modules into the national education system.
