In Senegal, primary education is compulsory and free in public schools (apart from supply, material and other costs) for children aged 6 to 16 years.
Refugees and asylum seekers can access public schools under the same conditions as Senegalese.
If you are a refugee or an asylum seeker, please contact the Green Village Foundation (GVF) for all the necessary facilitations. It will be necessary to present the refugee identity card and a birth certificate when registering for school and for school examination records.
➡️Green Village Foundation (GVF) :
Social Orientation Office (BOS)
- Address: Villa 7B BP 16917 Dakar, Point E (in front of the Olympic swimming pool)
- Hours: Monday to Thursday from 8h to 17h; Friday from 8h to 14h.
- Tel: 📞 +221 33 825 63 66.
Also, through the DAFI project, the UNHCR, with its partner GVF supports and accompanies refugee students benefiting from the DAFI scholarship to pursue their higher education in the public and private universities of their choice, allowing them to have quality and competitive diplomas. On the labour market, thereby strengthening their empowerment and resilience.
According to Senegalese laws, beneficiaries of refugee status received the same treatment as nationals with regard to access to education, scholarships, the right to work, and social benefits.
Based on this principle, DAFI students receive the same treatment relating to the conditions of access to public and private university establishments as nationals.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS), the African Union, FOAD-AUF, the Dakar Bioforce Center and the University Corridor Project to France (UNIV’R) also grant scholarship opportunities to refugees.
How to contact them?
Education focal point: 📞 +33 825 63 66
➡️Green Village Foundation (GVF) :
Social Orientation Office (BOS)
- Address: Villa 7B BP 16917 Dakar, Point E (in front of the Olympic swimming pool)
- Hours: Monday to Thursday from 8h to 17h; Friday from 8h to 14h.
- Tel: 📞 +221 33 825 63 66.
➡️ Additionally, the UNHCR Opportunities platform helps you find university programs or accredited UNHCR-verified scholarships to enable you to pursue advanced education, skills and professional development.