In 1938, a teachers' training college opened in Rufisque, Senegal, for young girls from all parts of French West Africa. This establishment had a twofold objective: train the first female primary school teachers and educate the future spouses of the men enrolled in higher education. The political and ideological issues underlying the creation of this institution had less to do with educating young women than with instilling in them the values and behaviors that would help France take root in the colonies. With the goal of turning out accomplished housewives and worthy mothers, the college's first principal, Germaine Le Goff, advocated, in line with official instructions, a complete moral and practical instruction in parallel to a basic education and a few lessons in the science of education itself. The principles of education applied at the college tended to be like those that prevailed in secondary schools for girls in late 19th century France. Nonetheless, creating this college marked a key phase in the professionalization of women, a process that started in French West Africa following WWI. Opening a section for midwives in the school of medicine in 1918 and institutionalizing nurses' training as of 1930 were other phases therein. The teachers' training college in Rufisque tended to represent the best of what the French administration did for educating African girls.