Education in Cameroon
Cameroon is genuinely unusual: as a country with both French and English colonial legacies, it operates two parallel education subsystems — a Francophone (French-based) system and an Anglophone (English-based, British-derived) system — each with its own structure, exams, and qualifications. Both are overseen by national ministries, and Cameroon promotes official bilingualism.
Structure & stages
The two subsystems differ:
- AnglophoneNursery + Primary (7 years) + Secondary (O-Level, ~5 years) + High School (A-Level, 2 years)
- FrancophonePrimary (6 years) + Collège (leading to the BEPC) + Lycée (leading to the Probatoire and Baccalauréat)
Compulsory education & enrolment
Primary education is compulsory and, in principle, free, beginning around age 6. Access varies with region, income, and — in the Anglophone regions — the security situation. The school year runs roughly September to June.
Public schools
Most children attend public schools in one of the two subsystems, chosen largely by region and language. The government runs both, and bilingual schools also exist.
Private & international schools
Cameroon has a substantial private and religious (Catholic, Protestant, and Islamic) school sector in both language subsystems, concentrated in the major cities.
Curriculum & language of instruction
Curriculum and language of instruction follow the subsystem: French in the Francophone system and English in the Anglophone system, each covering the standard academic subjects on its respective (French- or British-derived) model.
Exams & qualifications
Each subsystem has its own examinations:
- AnglophoneThe Cameroon GCE O-Level and A-Level (administered by the GCE Board)
- FrancophoneThe CEP, BEPC, Probatoire, and Baccalauréat
Higher education
Cameroon's universities serve both language systems: the Universities of Yaoundé I and II, the University of Douala, and the largely Anglophone University of Buea and University of Bamenda, among others. Higher education reflects the country's bilingual character.
Studying in Cameroon from abroad
Cameroon is not a major destination for international students, and the crisis in the Anglophone regions affects parts of the country.
- LanguagesStudy is available in both French and English, depending on the institution and subsystem
- Cameroonians abroadMany students study abroad, especially in France and other countries
- TravelCheck your government's travel advisory, particularly for the Northwest and Southwest regions
Special education & support
Special-education provision is limited, delivered mainly through NGO and faith-based programs, and further strained in conflict-affected regions.
Homeschooling
Homeschooling is not an established route in Cameroon; education is school-based across the two subsystems.
Costs & funding
Public primary education is, in principle, free, though families bear indirect costs. Private and religious schools charge fees. The currency is the Central African CFA franc.
Key facts for families
- LanguagesFrench and English — two parallel subsystems
- StructureAnglophone (7 + 5 + 2) and Francophone (6 + collège + lycée)
- CompulsoryFree primary in principle
- ExamsGCE (Anglophone); BEPC/Probatoire/Baccalauréat (Francophone)
- Current crisisConflict has disrupted schooling in the Anglophone regions
- Higher edUniversities of Yaoundé, Douala, Buea, Bamenda
Where to verify the details
This guide is a starting point, not the final authority — and conditions vary by region. For current details: