Higher education: the ministry unveils the list of unrecognized establishments October 3, 2026

The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation has made public a “black list” listing 34 establishments and private branches not authorized to provide training from Bachelor to Doctorate level. This decision aims to protect students against unrecognized sectors and to improve the supply of higher education throughout the national territory.

Faced with the proliferation of private training offers across the country, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation is banging its fist on the table. Through an official document published on Friday, October 2, by the General Directorate of Higher Education, the authorities made public their very first “black list” finalized on October 1, 2026, listing establishments not authorized to issue diplomas.

In total, 34 structures or territorial branches are formally identified. For the Bachelor-Master cycle, the measure targets Sup-management intelligentsia (Smi) and the Ziguinchor polytechnic institute (Zip) in Ziguinchor, the Higher School of Administration and Management (Esag) in Saint-Louis, the Institute of Management of Sub-Saharan Africa (Imas), the Higher School of Logistics and Transport (Eslot) as well as the African Private Institute of Petroleum Professions (Ipamep) in Dakar, without forgetting the Modern Institute (Im) in Mbour. To this list is added the territorial deployment of the Higher Institute of Entrepreneurship and Management (Iseg) including representations in Ziguinchor, Thiès, Tambacounda, Sédhiou, Saint-Louis, Rufisque, Podor, Pikine, Mbour, Mbacké, Louga, Kolda, Keur Massar, Kédougou, Kaolack, Kaffrine, Guédiawaye, Fatick, Diourbel, Bambilor, Parcelles Assainies, Mboro, Joal, Tivaouane and Ouorossogui are declared unrecognized.

The ministry’s warning does not stop at first university cycles. At the Doctorate level, two strategic studies entities based in Dakar (the Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies in Ouakam and the African Center for Strategic Intelligence (Cis-Paix Upeace), are directly targeted by this invalidation measure.

Faced with the risks of deception and the consequences on the future of students, the Director General of Higher Education, Professor Mamadou Sidibé, calls on the public for increased vigilance. He urges parents and future candidates to systematically ensure the validity of an establishment’s approvals, authorizations and accreditations before registering. To prevent possible abuse, the ministry invites the population to obtain information directly from its services.

The list highlights a recurring phenomenon: certain schools have authorizations for a main headquarters, but open regional branches without specific approval for these new sites. The ministry thus clarifies that each geographic location must be subject to separate validation.

This is a restructuring process aimed at regulating the private higher education market, stopping unfair competition and guaranteeing a minimum quality of education throughout the national territory. The measure also aims to protect students and their families against registration in unrecognized courses.

Mamadou GUEYE