Since its independence from France in 1960 Benin has been undergoing a number of reforms proposed and implemented to adapt the educational system to the social, political, and economic realities of the country. In Benin, the latest Constitution of December 11, 1990, has rendered primary school compulsory. The country’s educational priorities include:

• An urgent review of schools' programs to meet the demands of the liberal economy adopted by the new democratic regime;
• A progressive curriculum adjustment to emphasize technical and professional skill acquisition at as early as primary school level. To that extent a vast program of curricula, syllabi, and textbooks change is underway with the help of USAID;
• An effective promotion of girls' education at all levels of the school system to decrease the high rate of illiteracy among the country’s female population.

Most of the formal education is given in government-owned institutions and private schools, some of which are owned by religious groups. The Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research is the government body in charge of regulating procedures and maintaining standards. It is a school year system with classes beginning generally in September or October and ending with the organization of various national examinations in June or July. French is the language of instruction throughout the system. The introduction of English language at an earlier stage of the educational system is one of the main changes brought by the ongoing curriculum revision. The neighboring of the Anglophone Nigeria and the necessity of a West African sub-regional economic integration command the acquisition of both English and French languages. All the schools have the same core program with the same official examinations at different stages.

In Benin, education is given at four levels:

• Nursery (enseignement maternel)
• Primary (enseignement primaire)
• Secondary (enseignement secondaire)
• University (enseignement supérieur)

Not especially targeted by the ongoing reforms, this level of education nevertheless receives a particular attention from the government and the private sector. There are about 363 preschools, 33% of which are private.

Children enter this school at the age of three or four and spend two years before being accepted in primary schools. Education at this level essentially aims at stimulating the physical, psychological, and mental capacities of the child. It also develops in him the necessary faculties needed to live in society. That is why emphasis is put on stimulating and awakening activities organized to develop the interaction of the child with his social environment. In some private and international nurseries, activities are carried out in both English and French languages. No formal examination is needed after the completion of the two years.

Primary education begins at the age of five or six for those who attended preschools, and mandatory at six for those who did not. In primary school, students spend six years divided into three levels of two years each:

• Preparatory classes (cours d’initiation et cours préparatoire)
• Elementary classes (cours élémentaires I&II)
• Middle classes (cours moyens I&II)

Subjects taught include:

• Mathematics{Arithmetic – Geometry – Metric systems}
• Writing Competence in French {Grammar – Dictation – Composition}
• Reading Comprehension or Textual Analysis
• Sciences{History – Geography – Natural Sciences – Agriculture – Home Economics}
• Oral Competence in French{Text and Poetry Reading}
• Civic and Moral Education
• Artistic and Cultural activities{Singing – Drawing – Handicraft – Gardening}
• Sports

Students graduate after a National Examination that awards them a school-leaving certificate called CERTIFICAT D’ETUDE PRIMAIRE (C.E.P.) This examination is very competitive and the results serve two purposes. First, they are used as proof of completion of primary education, and second, they are used for selection into the government secondary schools. To that extent, the cumulative score in Mathematics, Writing Competence in French, and Reading Comprehension is used to determine the students on the priority list for admission into public secondary schools. The cumulative score is officially set and varies each year according to spaces available at government-owned secondary schools. Pupils not selected can still register in such schools if spaces are available, or get their admission into private secondary schools. Some private schools would offer computer science, English or other special courses in addition to the core program. But these courses are not considered for the national examination.

In 1998, Benin counted 3773 primary schools; 290 of them are private that is about 8%. The percentage of children attending primary schools were 76.49%. The success rate at C.E.P. was 68.40%. The dropout rate was 11.50%.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS (HIGH SCHOOL)

To complete their high school, Beninese students spend seven years divided into two periods called “cycles.” The first four years constitute the First “cycle” and the last three years, the Second “cycle.” The programs and the exams for each “cycle” depend on whether the student is undertaking a General Education or a Technical and Professional Education.

General Education

The core program for the first two years of secondary school in General Education is pretty much the same for every students. The subjects offered include:

• French
• Mathematics
• Physics and Chemistry
• Natural science
• History and Geography
• English
• Home economics
• Second Foreign Language (German or Spanish)
• Introduction to Computer
• Sports

From the third year, some subjects of the core program are more emphasized to give three options at the end-of-cycle exam:

• Literary option (Moderne long): here, languages are given a higher multiplying factor or coefficient.
• Scientific option (Moderne court): higher coefficients go to mathematics, physics and chemistry. The Second Foreign Language is dropped.
• Classical option (Classic): Latin and Greek are added to other languages.

At the end of the first “cycle” all the students sit for the BREVET ELEMENTAIRE DU PREMIER cycle (B.E.P.C.) which is a qualifying exam for the second “cycle.” However, a student who has failed BEPC but successfully completed the fourth year of the first “cycle” can still make it to the second “cycle” of the secondary school education. The courses in the second “cycle” remain the same with the addition of Philosophy. Studies are organized in four sections giving the student four options at the BACCALAUREAT exam (or BAC), which is the High School Diploma. The four options are:

1. Literature á two types of BAC:

• BAC (A1), where the highest coefficient goes to French(5) then(4) to each of the following: Philosophy, English, History and Geography.
• BAC (A2), same as above but here, the highest coefficient goes to History and Geography(5).

1. Economics á BAC (B) the highest coefficient is in Economics(5).
2. Mathematics á BAC (C) Math (6) – Physical science and Chemistry (6).
3. Biology á BAC (D) Biology (5) – Math (4) - Physics and Chemistry (4)

After the “baccalaureat,” the student can either go to the National University’s faculties or schools or to one of the private higher education institutions. For the school year 1999-2000, the percentage of students attending secondary school was 16.40%. In both public and private schools, there were 208,885 students representing an 11.08% increase compared to the previous year. We had 205 public schools with 2,243 teachers and 174 private schools with 1,412 teachers. The success rate at the 1999 “baccalaureat” was 29.31% on 18,107 candidates registered.

After the primary education, this is the second priority of the government. This type of education has a tremendous success because the country’s newly adopted market economy needs more and more qualified technicians and professionals. Private schools dominate this sector. They constitute 87% of the country total and register 68% of the students attending technical schools.

Studies in these schools cover the primary sector (agriculture), the secondary sector (industry), and the tertiary sector (services and management). At the end of the first “cycle,” students in the secondary and tertiary sectors take an exam that awards them a certificate of professional aptitude called the CERTIFICAT D’APTITUDE PROFESSIONNELLE (C.A.P.). Those in agriculture are awarded a certificate called BREVET D’ETUDE D’AGRONOMIE TROPICALE (B.E.A.T.). An entrance examination is required to start the first cycle. The successful completion of the first “cycle” gives access to the second level. However, general education BEPC and other first “cycle” degree holders are admitted into technical and professional second “cycle” after a highly competitive entrance examination.

The exam taken at the end of the second cycle grants a diploma which varies according to the type of the studies. Three possibilities are mainly offered:

• Primary sector (agriculture): DIPLOME D’ETUDE D’AGRONOMIE TROPICALE (D.E.A.T.).
• Secondary sector (industry) two options:
• BAC (E)
• BAC (F)
• DIPLOME DE TECHNICIEN INDUSTRIEL (D.T.I.).
• Tertiary sector (services and management)
• BAC (G1) Secretary and Office Management
• BAC (G2) Accounting
• BAC (G3) Commerce and Marketing

In addition to technical subjects that receive the highest coefficients, general education subjects are also taught. For the school year 1998-1999, the success rate at various CAP was 43.19%, and at DTI and other technical BAC was 75.70%.

Founded in July 1970 the NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF BENIN (U.N.B.) is, so far, the only public institution of higher education of the country. In 1998-1999 the number of students was about 16,759 distributed among its three campuses: in Abomey-Calavi 16 kilometers north-east of Cotonou; in Cotonou, the administrative capital of Benin; and in Porto-Novo, the political capital. These campuses host its 18 departments and schools; but the bulk of the university is at the main campus in Abomey-Calavi.

The university is comprised of four types of colleges or schools:

• Colleges of general education or Faculties
• Department of Letters, Arts and Humanities (FLASH). See annex 1.
• Department of Law, Economics and Political Sciences (FA.S.J.E.P.) See annex 2.
• Department of Sciences and Techniques (FAST) See annex 3.
• Professional and Technical Colleges
• Department of Agriculture (F.S.A.)
• Department of Health Sciences (F.S.S.)
• National Institute of Economics (I.N.E.)
• University Polytechnic College (C.P.U.)
• National School of Administration (E.N.A.)
• National Institute of Physical and Sports Education (I.N.E.E.P.S.)
• National School of Social Workers (E.N.A.S.)
• Post/Para-University Institutions
• Beninese Center of Foreign Languages (CE.BE.LA.E.)
• Regional Institute of Public Health (I.R.S.P.)
• Institute of Mathematics and Physics (I.M.S.P.)
• Teacher Training Schools
• Junior High Teacher Training School (E.N.I.)
• Senior High Teacher Training School (E.N.S.)

1. Colleges of general education or Faculties

Students holding a high school degree can go to the university’s colleges of general education with no entrance examination. However, those who have completed high school but do not have the diploma may take a Special University Entrance Examination (E.S.E.U.) after two years of professional activity. This entrance examination has two options. Option (A) gives access to the Department of Letters, Arts and Humanities, and option (B) to the Department of Sciences and Techniques. A student without a high school diploma may enter the Department of Law, Economics and Political Sciences after 2 years in a special pre-law program (Capacité en Droit) with a cumulative grade of 12/20.

In the Faculties it is a four-year program set up as follows:

-First and second years: Diploma for General University Studies

-Third year: Licence degree (two certificates CL and C1)

-Fourth year: Maîtrise degree (certificate C2 plus the defense of a thesis “memoire de maîtrise”).

For more details on the three faculties see diagrams.

2. Professional and Technical Colleges

1. Department of Agriculture (F.S.A.)

The program lasts 5 years and 3 months divided into three periods.

The first period of two years is devoted to fundamental scientific subjects and an introduction to agronomy.

During the second period of two years, students follow a program in general agronomy. After a successful completion of these two periods, they receive the Diploma of General Agronomy (D.A.G.)

The third period of 15 months is a specialization period ending with the defense of a dissertation. The diploma of Agronomy is issued at the end of the program.

2. Department of Health Sciences (F.S.S.)

• General surgery
• Gynecology and Obstetrics
• Pediatric and Genetics
• Internal medicine
• Psychiatry

1. National Institute of Economics (I.N.E.)

• First group {Enterprise Management – Business Management – Bank Management – Computer Systems Management}
• Second group {Statistics – Planning – Demography}

1. University Polytechnic College (C.P.U.)

• Biomedical Analysis (ABM)
• Medical Imaging (IM)
• Ecology (APE)
• Animal Sciences (PA)

• Civil Engineering (GC)
• Energy and Mechanical Engineering (GME)
• Electrical Engineering (GE)
• Industrial Maintenance (TMI)

1. National School of Administration (E.N.A.)

There used to be two “cycles” in this school; the second “cycle” has been discontinued because of national budget restriction. The first “cycle” lasts three (3) year after which a diploma is issued in one of the four options available.

2. National Institute of Physical and Sports Education (I.N.E.E.P.S.)

Students who undertake this study become physical and sports education teachers or sport coaches after five (5) years divided into two cycles. A certificate is delivered at the end of the first cycle and a diploma at the end of the second one.

3. National School of Social Workers (E.N.A.S.)

The grading system is the same at all level of the educational system. Grades are on a 20 point scale. The following chart shows the approximate equivalents in the American system:

Sometimes a grade may be given on a 10 point scale. In this case, the grade will be multiplied by 2.

Grades on transcripts may be expressed in relation to a coefficient; a coefficient indicates the relative importance of an academic course or subject. In this case, the grade should be divided by the coefficient to determine the grade on a 20 point scale. For example, with a coefficient 3 and a grade that shows 24, the grade on a 20 point scale is 08.

The GPA can therefore be calculated after the American grading system. The letter grades (A,B,C,D) are converted into numerals (with A equals 4) and their sum is averaged to determine the GPA.

At university, the overall quality assessment of degrees, diplomas or certificates may be expressed in terms of “Mention” as put forth in the following chart:

Prepared by:

Luc Fanou
Educational Adviser
Public Affairs Section,
U.S. Embassy Cotonou, Benin
Tel.: (229) 30-03-12
Fax : (229) 30-03-84
E-mail: lucfanou@hotmail.com