A Discussion with Ousmane Balde, Student at Saint Pierre College, Dakar, Senegal
With: Ousmane Balde Berkley Center Profile
July 28, 2015
Background: As
part of the Education and Social Justice Project, undergraduate student
Sabrina Khan interviewed Ousmane Balde, a student at Saint Pierre College (Collège
Saint Pierre) in Dakar, Senegal. In this interview, conducted in July 2015, Balde
discusses his experience as a Muslim student in the Catholic education system.
Can you introduce
yourself?
My name is Ousmane Balde. I was born in Dakar. I am 21 years old. I am a student at Saint Pierre, a private Catholic school.
Who chose Saint Pierre? Was it you, or your family?
My parents chose Saint Pierre when I was 7 years old. My whole family has attended Saint Pierre. I do not regret their choice—even my dad and grandparents have attended this school, as well as my two brothers and my sister.
Is Catholic education something important for your family?
Yes. In Senegal, education is better with the Catholics. They give you a foundational education. You have everything to succeed at your studies, unlike other schools. You feel like Saint Pierre is your family. You know everything about Saint Pierre. We passed our baccalaureate thanks to Saint Pierre.
Is your family Catholic?
I am Muslim. Everyone is free here. We don’t even see differences between Christian and Muslim students. In Senegal, we have religious stability. Christians and Muslims celebrate each other’s holidays, like Christmas and Eid. If there’s a holiday, we invite each other. There isn’t a religious problem in Senegal. Everyone is free to believe in what they want. It’s religious democracy.
What role does faith play in instruction here?
To be religious, you have to learn. To convey a message, you have to speak different languages. School completes faith, but faith also completes school. You are obliged to develop these foundations.
What do you want to do in the future as a career?
I want to be a civil engineer.
My name is Ousmane Balde. I was born in Dakar. I am 21 years old. I am a student at Saint Pierre, a private Catholic school.
Who chose Saint Pierre? Was it you, or your family?
My parents chose Saint Pierre when I was 7 years old. My whole family has attended Saint Pierre. I do not regret their choice—even my dad and grandparents have attended this school, as well as my two brothers and my sister.
Is Catholic education something important for your family?
Yes. In Senegal, education is better with the Catholics. They give you a foundational education. You have everything to succeed at your studies, unlike other schools. You feel like Saint Pierre is your family. You know everything about Saint Pierre. We passed our baccalaureate thanks to Saint Pierre.
Is your family Catholic?
I am Muslim. Everyone is free here. We don’t even see differences between Christian and Muslim students. In Senegal, we have religious stability. Christians and Muslims celebrate each other’s holidays, like Christmas and Eid. If there’s a holiday, we invite each other. There isn’t a religious problem in Senegal. Everyone is free to believe in what they want. It’s religious democracy.
What role does faith play in instruction here?
To be religious, you have to learn. To convey a message, you have to speak different languages. School completes faith, but faith also completes school. You are obliged to develop these foundations.
What do you want to do in the future as a career?
I want to be a civil engineer.
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