Overview of the General Education System

Cameroon's education system is honed by its colonial past, which gave birth to a bilingual and dual-model structure. The country consists of two parallel systems. The Anglophone model, as its name implies, follows the British educational framework, while the Francophone model is based on the French system.

The government officially recognizes these models, whereas English and French are designated as the official languages of instruction. Apart from these languages, there are also 24 major African languages spoken regionally, and recent policy shifts continue to recognize the unique needs of each sub-system.

Governing bodies in education is divided. The Ministry of Basic Education (MINEDUB) has the control in primary education, the Ministry of Secondary Education (MINESEC) handles lower and upper secondary, and the Ministry of Higher Education (MINESUP) governs post-secondary institutions. Meanwhile, vocational and professional education falls under the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training (MINEFOP). Public education in Cameroon free of tuition and compulsory from the ages of six to 12.

Cameroon’s school calendar spans 36 weeks from September to June, with official certificates awarded at the end of each stage, such as the Certificat d’Études Primaires Élémentaires (CEPE) in the Francophone system while First School Leaving Certificate is awarded in the Anglophone counterpart.

Education is offered through public, private, and denominational institutions. Although the primary enrollment reached 113% in 2023, the actual literacy remains at low at 69.7%. Preschool participation rose from 32% to 38.83% in 2020, partly due to community-based programs targeting rural populations.

Compulsory education in Cameroon spans ages six to 12. It covers six years of primary schooling in both the Francophone and Anglophone sub-systems. The school participation rate is only 70% among eligible children in the Francophone regions, with lower retention in remote or conflict-affected zones.

In the Francophone system, students receive the CEPE upon completing primary school. They can then transition into a four-year lower secondary program followed by a three-year upper secondary phase, which culminates in the baccalauréat.

On the other hand, the Anglophone learners complete six years of primary school and then enter five years of lower secondary education, which prepares students for the GCE “O” Level. This is followed by another two years of upper secondary, which culminates in the GCE “A” Level.

One unique feature of Cameroon’s system is the existence of technical tracks, available from lower secondary onwards, which offer students a vocational pathway leading to professional diplomas such as the Brevet de Technicien Supérieur (BTS) or Higher National Diploma (HND).

Higher education in Cameroon follows the three-tier LMD (Licence-Master-Doctorat) system, which was harmonized in 2007 to make even of both subsystems. Entry requires the GCE A-level (Anglophone) or the baccalauréat (Francophone). The MINESUP oversees admission requirements, progression frameworks, and curricular standards to ensure national coherence across institutions.

The first cycle leads to a Licence or Bachelor’s degree after three years. The second cycle consists of a two-year Master’s program, and the third cycle is a doctoral program that is taken for three to four years. Programs in professional fields, such as medicine, pharmacy, or engineering, may extend beyond five years.

Cameroon is home to eight public universities. These HEIs include Université de Yaoundé I and II, as well as Douala, Dschang, N’gaoundéré, Maroua, Buea, and Bamenda, and over 240 other other private institutions. The Université de Buea employs English as a method of learning and follows the British model, while others use French. There are also 46 Grandes Écoles, offering specialized training in engineering, administration, and telecommunications under various ministries.