Senegal's first elite boarding school for girls is fostering a new generation of leaders, empowering young women to push back against patriarchal norms prevalent in the largely Muslim West African nation. The Mariama Ba School, located on Goree Island off the coast of Dakar, has achieved a 100% completion rate for its students, a significant accomplishment in a country where less than 20% of girls finish high school.
Despite progress in primary education, where girls' enrollment rates now exceed boys', a substantial number drop out before completing secondary education. Experts attribute this to a variety of factors, including financial constraints that lead families to prioritize boys' schooling, early marriage, and teenage pregnancy. Girls are also more likely to miss school during menstruation, further hindering their educational progression.
"The current challenge isn’t access to school for girls, but rather the completion of schooling up to secondary level and, of course, the transition to the job market," said Maissa Abdellaoui, a girls' education specialist with UNICEF.
Established in 1985 and named after Senegal's pioneering female author Mariama Ba, the school enrolls 35 girls annually from a pool of 150 applicants, based on academic merit. The state fully funds tuition and boarding. The curriculum is rigorous, combining academics with arts and sports, and includes talks by successful women in various fields, many of whom are alumnae.
The school's environment is designed to foster leadership and confidence. Ndeye Awa Diop, a 19-year-old student and president of the student council, described her transformation from a shy child to a confident leader. "I learned to be a leader," she said, reflecting on her initial homesickness and shyness upon arrival.
However, female empowerment in Senegal faces persistent challenges. Women own only 2% of agricultural land, according to the United Nations, and constitute the majority of the un-formally employed population. Senegalese law still designates men as heads of households. "In Senegal, people’s mentality remains very, very, very strict regarding women’s independence," said 18-year-old student Marie Diop. "In fact, each day you are fighting a battle to make people understand that ... women have the capacity to manage, to be in charge."
The school's alumnae play a crucial role in mentoring current students. Matel Sow, 27, heads the alumnae association. She recounted how her father, initially hesitant, eventually supported her pursuit of education after witnessing its transformative impact. Sow, who holds degrees from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar and the University of Texas, now works at the nonprofit International Budget Partnership. She emphasized the importance of a "genuine partnership" in her own marriage, balancing her career and motherhood.
While the Mariama Ba school serves as a vital model, experts note that systemic change is necessary for widespread female empowerment. UNICEF’s Abdellaoui advocates for broader access to similar educational opportunities for more vulnerable populations. The headmistress, Ramatoulaye Diagne Sarr, acknowledged that many students originate from the capital, suggesting a need to reach girls in more remote areas.
For students like Ndeye Awa Diop, the school offers a vision for the future that diverges from traditional expectations. She aspires to be an international business lawyer and views independence as a strength, stating, "To be a strong woman is not to be afraid to be alone."