Education System in Guinea-Bissau

Primary	Primary School	1–6	7–12	6	Primary education is free and compulsory
Primary	General Secondary Education (Lycee)	7–9	12–15	3
Secondary	Vocational Program	7–9	12–15	3
Secondary	Upper Secondary School	10–12	15–18	3
Tertiary	Undergraduate			4–6	The Amilcar Cabral University, Guinea Bissau's first University, offers degree courses in education, law, medicine, veterinary medicine, engineering, agronomy, economics, sociology, modern languages and journalism. On average, three years of training is required before a degree is awarded at the associate level. Law students study for five years, leading to a bachelor’s degree. Medical students need seven years, including an internship, to achieve a Medicina geral, which is equivalent to an MD. So far, all postgraduate studies must be undertaken abroad.

Primary Education

Education in the West African country of Guinea-Bissau is compulsory from age 7 to 14, although barely 55% of children attend the basic level, and just 25% complete the complementary 2 years that follow. As a result of this adult illiteracy remains high especially among the women.

Secondary Education

Students with promising basic school results may attend secondary school for a further 5 years. Unfortunately, there are few facilities in remote rural areas where teachers may be poorly trained too. As a result, the education system largely fails to deliver to those whom it most desperately needs to serve.

Tertiary Education

In addition to schools of teacher, nursing and vocational training, there are 2 universities both established in 2003 and based in Bissau. The Amilcar Cabral University has been suspended by the government for financial mismanagement. Little information is available regarding the academic programs of the University of Colinas de Boe, which awards bachalerato degrees after 3 years of study, and licenciaturas after 5.

Resources:

Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture and Sports