Overview of the General Education System

Equatorial Guinea is a country located at the west coast of Africa. It has a mainland part called Río Muni and five islands that include Bioko and Annobón. The capital of the mainland is Bata. The primary people in the area were the Pygmies, followed by Bantu and Fang tribes. In 1474, the islands became colonies of the Portuguese, and by 1778, Spain took over the islands and mainland, and renamed them into Spanish Guinea. Independence was attained by the country on October 12, 1968, and it was renamed into Equatorial Guinea.

Currently, the education system of the country operates under the control of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Sports. The mission of the Ministry is to develop inclusive curricula, provide teacher training, and ensure access to all levels of education from preschool to university.

Despite the legal framework that mandates education from ages six to 18, however, enforcement remains weak. Only about 79% of children attend primary school, and just 69% proceed to secondary education, according to the 2007 General Education Law. Unfortunately, dropout rates are significantly high across levels.

Nevertheless, the literacy rate in Equatorial Guinea is distinctly high for the region, with a rate of 95%, of which 97.3% for males and 92.4% for females. However, tertiary school enrollment remains low. In 2019, it stood at just 5.37%, down from 6.16% in 2018, far below the global average of 47.77%.

The system is structured into pre-primary, primary, secondary (lower and upper), vocational, and higher education. Preschool education is divided into pre-nursery and nursery and begins at age six. This level emphasizes speech development and play. Primary education spans five years of ages six to 11 and ends in the Certificado de Estudios Primarios. This certification is required for progression into vocational training or secondary school.

Secondary education is divided into two stages. Lower secondary lasts four years, while the upper secondary takes three years and includes both academic and vocational tracks. The academic track concludes with the Bachillerato examination. Vocational education consists of two cycles: a one-year Grado Medio and a two-year Grado Superior.

Special education is legally mandated to support students with special educational needs (SEN). These programs aim to ascertain that SEN students and gifted learners can be guided by national educational goals.

Compulsory education in Equatorial Guinea is from the ages of six to 18. The primary education cycle lasts for five years. Students who complete this stage take an external exam to gain the Certificado de Estudios Primarios. Those who pass can enter into two pathways either vocational training or a seven-year secondary education system.

Despite these legal requirements, attendance and retention, however, remain challenges as only 79% of children are enrolled in primary school, and only 69% progress to secondary education. Factors contributing to these data include the government's lack of enforcement and infrastructure, which accelerates the persistently high dropout rates across all levels.

Higher education in Equatorial Guinea is composed of several public and private institutions. The National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE) is the primary public university and was founded in 1995.

Private universities, such as Universidad Hispanoamericana (UH) and Universidad Nacional de África Central (UNAC), among others, offer programs in law, engineering, business, and the humanities. Specialized institutes such as the National Institute of Higher Education in Technology (INSPT) focus on engineering and technical fields. Nevertheless, some students pursue degrees abroad, especially in Spain and France. Admission to this institution requires a Bachillerato certificate.

Despite these academic opportunities, the country’s tertiary enrollment rate is among the lowest globally. It only has 5.37% enrollment recorded in 2019, which is significantly below the global average of 47.77%.

As for the credentials, first-level degrees (Licenciado) are earned after six semesters. Master's degrees require an additional four semesters, while the doctoral degree require at least three years of post-master’s coursework and research.