• Senegal’s Ministry of Education launched PLANETE 3, a digital platform to modernize school management.

• The system offers real-time monitoring of attendance, grades, and student performance, with UNICEF’s support.

• The initiative is part of a CFA130 billion ($233 million) national digital education strategy for 2025–2029.

Senegal’s Ministry of Education officially launched “PLANETE 3” on Friday, October 3, a digital platform designed to modernize the management of schools and educational institutions. Developed by local engineers, the system aims to end the fragmentation and isolation of the country’s education network.

“PLANETE 3 is not just a technological upgrade. It represents a fundamental shift and marks the irreversible transition toward a more connected, participatory, and dynamic educational community,” said Education Minister Moustapha Guirassy during the launch ceremony in Dakar.

The platform provides each education stakeholder with a personalized interface. It includes features for real-time tracking of attendance, grades, and report cards, as well as remote learning tools for struggling students, developed with UNICEF’s support. Intelligent dashboards will also allow education officials, including the minister, to monitor the entire system nationwide.

The initiative is part of the National Digital Strategy for Education 2025–2029, unveiled in January with an estimated budget of CFA130 billion (about $233 million). The strategy seeks to modernize Senegal’s schools and improve their appeal. It also follows the launch of a large-scale program to train 105,000 teachers in digital tools and artificial intelligence to support the country’s educational transformation.

For teachers, PLANETE 3 is expected to reduce administrative burdens, freeing more time for innovation in the classroom. Parents will gain real-time visibility through instant notifications, while students will receive more personalized support, especially those facing academic challenges. For administrators, the tool provides a powerful decision-making and management instrument, helping to build a more efficient and inclusive education system.

However, several challenges remain to ensure the platform’s success. Connectivity issues, limited computer access in some schools, and potential overload during peak usage periods will need to be addressed to guarantee smooth and equitable implementation across the country.