Mr SENE Salde High

School
Terminale L’/L2

Since June 2023, Senegal's public universities have been closed, a decision justified
by the socio-political climate. The academic councils had then established a
schedule for the resumption of face-to-face teaching for the month of October. The
Autonomous Union of Higher Education (Saes) has alerted the state and university
authorities on several occasions to take the necessary measures for a proper
resumption of classes.
Despite numerous calls from the university authorities and the supervising minister
for the reopening of universities, the SAES deplores the "dilatory" behaviour of the
authorities who refuse to open universities. The union denounces the "alibi" of the
renovation of social infrastructure used by the authorities who did not want to
prepare for the resumption of face-to-face classes.
"The SAES notes with bitterness the closure of almost all Senegalese universities,
the non-compliance with the Saes-Government memorandum of understanding of
January 6, 2023 and in particular the issue concerning the widows and widowers of
teaching and research staff (Per), the contempt, dilatory as well as the total
indifference of the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation as well as
the arrogance of some academic authorities in the face of the chaotic situation of
universities," said Alexandre Coly, General Secretary of the trade union organisation
at the Assane Seck University in Ziguinchor.
The SAES called on its activists to return to the universities and to sign petitions for
the convening of faculty assemblies in order to demand the immediate reopening
and security of the universities. The union denounces the unacceptable situation
prevailing in the universities, maintained by the authorities, and disclaims any
responsibility for the overlap and the validity or otherwise of the academic years.
The SAES calls for mobilization to defend higher education threatened by
incongruous decisions of the authorities.

https://senego.com/fermeture-des-universites-senegalaises-le-saes-denonce-lindifference-et-larrogance-des-
autorites-etatiques-et-universitaires_1622418.html

Reading Comprehension

A. Give your Answers for the following questions

1. Which Title below do you think would fit this text? Circle the good option.

a. The Government preference is the online classes.

b. SAES calls for higher education teachers’ salaries to be increased
c. The Closure of Senegal’s Public universities

2. Do the students attend face-to-face classes?

3. What does the French acronym SAES mean in English? And what are they (members of
SAES) asking to the Authorities to do?
4. Do you think that online classes are good for the students? Give the reason or reasons of
your answer.
5. Do you think that the closure of Senegal’s Public Universities for more than two months is
a good solution? Why?

B.