Re-thinking the Literacy Divide in Language Education in Senegal

This book examines literacy education in Senegal. It assesses some of the impacts of French policies on the overall Senegalese system of education, including some of the language policies championed by a cohort of Senegalese authorities from 1960 until 2012. It begins with a definition of the concept of literacy education in general to briefly set the scene of the early resistance this encountered in West Africa, particularly in Senegal. It discusses the major language policies undertaken by presidents Leopold Sedar Senghor, Abdou Diouf, and Abdoulaye Wade. Finally, the book assesses the major impacts of France’s literacy policies on the current system of education in Senegal and proposes solutions on how to help Senegal and the rest of the West African countries put in place a rigorous literacy education that benefits their population.

Dr. Moustapha Fall received his doctoral degree in Second Language Acquisition & Language Pedagogy in 2014 from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. His primary research focuses on second language acquisition, language pedagogy and early literacy education. He has taught at the University of British Columbia, the Fraser Valley University, the University of Calgary the University of Victoria, Southern Illinois University and the University of Milwaukee. Dr. Fall is currently an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Victoria, Canada and a faculty affiliated to the Gaston Berger University in Senegal.

Dr. Fall was awarded the 2015 Author Recognition Award from Southern Illinois University for his academic contribution to the university.

Dr. Fall received the Teaching Excellence Award, awarded by the Faculty of Humanities, at the University of Victoria in September 2024.