Estimated at, at least 10 billion FCfa, the debt owed to private higher learning institutions by State is still in the evaluation stages. The authorities are still waiting for invoices from some of the service providers even though the State’s orientation programme for high school leavers to the private institutions finished in 2022. 

The State is in a position to pay the debt it owes to private higher learning establishments, estimated at less than 10 billion francs. This assurance comes from Professor Cheikh Séne, a lecturer-researcher at Ucad’s Faculty of Science and Technology, also director of Private Higher Education at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. But for the moment, the government is taking stock of the situation, because it would like to have an exact idea of the amount owed. However, it regrets the attitude of some private school managers who refuse to forward their invoices. “We still have outstanding invoices. It’s true that there are debts that the state owes to the institutions, but there’s one fact that I’ve also never understood: you can’t ask to be paid and not send invoices,” he said.

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And faced with this situation, the state has even extended the deadline to allow these schools to be up to date. Pr Séne explained; “Last year, I sent out a schedule informing that the program has been completed since 2022. There’s no longer any reason for invoices not to be sent. The end of this schedule was April 2023. I was obliged to send another circular note to say that the deadline is April 30, 2024. And that after this date, any invoices not received by our services will be classified as closed without follow up. We’re in the process of taking stock of the situation, because the authorities need to have an exact idea of how much is owed. Our departments are working in synergy with the Dage. We don’t pay. We simply forward the invoices to the Dage. It’s up to the Dage to determine the exact amount owed to private higher learning institutions. So, now that the deadline has passed, we’re in the process of taking stock of the invoices received.” He continues: “In the course of next week, I think Monday or Tuesday at the latest, the invoices in our hands will be forwarded to the Dage. And the Dage will take charge, before we go to the national seminar, to take stock of the exact amount of the debts owed to higher private learning establishments.”

On the other hand, the State also invites private higher learning institutions with provisional or definitive accreditation to switch to institutional accreditation. “The invitations extended to private institutions are in the direction of quality and certification. I reiterated this at the meeting with the Minister. In the directory, we have 92 establishments with institutional accreditation, but the remaining 175 have either provisional or definitive accreditation. He had even asked that we switch those with definitive approval to institutional accreditation. We invite the 175 establishments that have not yet been granted institutional accreditation to do so,” he insisted.

By Justin GOMIS / justin@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH