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Gouverneur Soudan Fran‡ais to Directeur du Chemin de
Fer Thiès-Niger,
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| © 1999 by Jim Jones, Ph.D. |
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This document concerns the financial arrangements to operate the railroad professional program. It cost roughly 1000 francs/year to feed, cloth and house a student; the railroad paid this. Two railroad specialists alternated as teachers for 90-minute courses each morning, so they each taught a total of 4.5 hours/week and earned a bonus of 3000 francs/year. The railroad provided an additional 2000 francs per year as a subsidy for building maintainance.
The Arrêté de 8 Juin 1925 provided for examinations to be held at the end of the third year. Classes were held every day from Monday to Saturday. Technical subjects were taught between 8h00-9h30 each morning. From 9h30-11h00, students learned typing and telegraphy. From 14h00-17h00, students did practical work in various railroad offices. From 18h00-20h00, students had supervised study under a proctor (surveillant).
After they finished their studies, students were expected to work 6-10 years for the railroad, depending on the service they entered, to repay the cost of their education.
The curriculum included the theory of locomotives, rolling stock and railroad tracks; "exploitation technique" (safety, signals, train operation, schedules); "exploitation commerciale" (tariffs, rates, etc.); accounting, and legal codes.