Education System in Gabon

Primary	Ecole primaire	6–11	6	Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificat d'Etudes primaires Certificat d'Etudes primaires élémentaires (CEPE), Concours d'Entrée Education is compulsory for 10 years from the ages of 6 to 16. The system is modeled on education in France and French is the language of instruction.
Middle	Premier Cycle secondaire	11–15	3	First cycle of the secondary education. Certificate/diploma awarded: Brevet d'Etudes du premier Cycle (BEPC)
Secondary	Enseignement secondaire technique	15–19	3	3-4 years. Certificate/diploma awarded: Brevet de Technicien, Baccalauréat technique
Secondary	Deuxième Cycle secondaire	15–18	4	Certificate/diploma awarded: Baccalauréat
Tertiary	Second stage: Deuxième Cycle		4	The second stage leads, after a further year of study in Arts and Sciences, Economics and Law, to the Licence. A further year of study leads to the Maîtrise in Arts and Humanities, Law, Economics, Management, Social Communication Techniques, Economics and Finance, Juridical Sciences and General Administration. The Ecole nationale de la Magistrature trains Magistrates in four years after the Baccalauréat and in two years for holders of the Licence in Law. The titles of Ingénieur, Ingénieur informaticien, and Géographe-Aménagiste are awarded on completion of five years' study.
Tertiary	Premier Cycle		2	The entrance requirement for degree studies is the Baccalauréat. The first phase leads, after two years' study to the Diplôme universitaire d'Etudes littéraires (DUEL) in Arts and Humanities, Diplôme universitaire d'Etudes scientifiques (DUES) in scientific subjects, Diplôme universitaire d'Etudes juridiques (DUEJ) in Law, and the Diplôme universitaire d'Etudes économiques (DUEE) in Economics. Most of these qualifications now come under the overall title of Diplôme d'Etudes universitaires générales (DEUG). Students who wish to study Law but do not hold the Baccalauréat may undertake a two-year course leading to the Capacité en Droit.
Tertiary	Deuxième Cycle		1–2	Certificate/diploma awarded: Licence. Maîtrise in Arts and Humanities, Law, Economics, Management, Social Communication Techniques, Economics and Finance, Juridical Sciences and General Administration. The Ecole nationale de la Magistrature trains Magistrates in four years after the Baccalauréat and in two years for holders of the Licence in Law. The titles of Ingénieur, Ingénieur informaticien, and Géographe-Aménagiste are awarded on completion of five years' study.
Tertiary	Teacher Education		4	Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificat d'Aptitude pédagogique
Tertiary	Troisième Cycle		3	The Ecole nationale d'Administration (advanced cycle) offers two-year training to holders of a Maîtrise following a competitive examination. Candidates are then awarded the Diplôme d'Administrateur civil (General Administration, Diplomacy, Factory Inspectorate). The Doctorat d'Etat in Medicine is awarded after six years' study. It leads to three post-doctoral specializations: Paediatrics, Surgery, and Gynaecology. A Doctorate is awarded in scientific subjects by the Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku.

Primary Education

Education in Gabon is still largely based on the French model, although things are gradually changing. The medium is also still French too, and school is compulsory between ages 6 and 16. Following time spent perhaps at crèche and kindergarten, children aged 6 enroll at primary school for 6 years of basic education. While they may graduate with a certificat d'etudes primaires certificate, it is their concours d'entrée en sixième results that determines the quality of the secondary school they will be routed to thereafter.

Secondary Education

There are several different kinds of secondary school in Gabon, of which general and technical institutions are the most common. Others include private and international schools. The state program takes 7 years to complete. After 4 years students write their brevet d'études du premier cycle examination. At the end of the period they graduate with a baccalauréat.

Vocational Education

Vocational and on-going adult education is under the control of the ministry of technical education and vocational training. Its primary role is to suggest strategies that re-integrate citizens into the more important sectors of the economy.

Tertiary Education

Gabon Education There are a variety of tertiary education institutions in Gabon, including national higher schools and institutes. The 2 state universities are the University of Sciences and Technologies of Masuku, and the Omar Bongo University.

The latter which is illustrated here was founded in 1978 and is based in Libreville. Its departments include faculties of administration, engineering, forestry, hydraulics, law, literature, management, science, and teacher training.

Resources:

Ministry of National Education and Professional Training