Back to school in Mauritania: Nouakchott families under pressure

The new school year began on October 5, 2026, in Mauritania for tens of thousands of students. However, this return to school is accompanied by significant financial concern for many families. In the aisles of Nouakchott's markets, parents are trying to acquire the necessary materials while directly feeling the effects of the high cost of living, according to information reported by RFI.

To cope with the expenses, many residents are adapting their shopping habits. A father who came to equip his 13-year-old daughter explained that he has to stagger the purchase of notebooks, bags, and pens for his three school-aged children due to the particularly high prices on the stalls of the Mauritanian capital.

This generalized rise in costs is also affecting the business of local merchants. One of them, himself a father of two students, testified to a drop in foot traffic and hours of waiting without making a sale. He is counting on his earnings to pay for his own children's registration fees, illustrating the economic pressure weighing on all stakeholders.

Despite the budgetary tension linked to the accumulation of school fees and teaching materials, parents continue to mobilize. Their absolute priority remains ensuring their children return to class in the best possible material conditions from the very start of the school year.

Our perspective

Access to education is a fundamental right and the foundation of the African continent's future. When inflation and the cost of supplies threaten children's schooling, it is the dignity of families that is put to the test. Ensuring a back-to-school season that is accessible to all must remain an absolute social priority.