Overview
République Centrafricaine is a landlocked country in central Africa and is bordered by the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The population is 4,444,330 and the literacy rate is 48.6%. French and Sangho are the official languages. French is the language of instruction.
Human habitation of the present-day Central African Republic (CAR) can be traced back to 1000 BC. Muslim traders arrived in the early 19th century, and slave traders exported many inhabitants of eastern CAR in the mid 19th century.
After Count Savorgnan de Brazza established the French Congo, he set expeditions further up the Ubangi River to explore more territory in central Africa. Later, the French colony of Ubangi-Chari was established in this region. In 1958, Ubangi-Chari became an autonomous region of France, and was granted independence on August 13, 1960 and became known as the Central African Republic.
Education
Primary Education
Education is free and compulsory from ages 6 to 12. l’École primaire (Primary school) lasts 6 years beginning at age 6. Upon completion, students are awarded a Certificat d’Etudes Fondamentales 1 (CEF 1).
Secondary Education
Collège d’enseignement secondaire (Lower secondary school) is 4 years and leads to the Brevet D’Études Fondamentales 2 (BEF 2).
Collège d’enseignement technique (Vocational upper secondary school) is 3 years and leads to the Certificat d’Aptitude Professionnelle (CAP). Lycée technique (Technical upper secondary school) is also 3 years. Upon completion, students sit for an external examination leading to the Baccalauréat de Technicien.
Lycée (Academic upper secondary school) is 3 years. At the end of the 3rd year, students sit for an external examination leading to the Baccalauréat.
Post-Secondary Education
Post-secondary education is offered at the Université de Bangui and its constituent institutes. A Baccalauréat (Baccalaureate) is required for admission to all programs.
First Cycle, Academic
First-level academic studies are 2 years and lead to the Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie (DUT),Diplôme D’Etudes Universitaires Générales (DEUG),Diplôme Universitaire D’Etudes Littéraires (DUEL),Diplôme Universitaire D’Etudes Scientifiques (DUES), Diplôme Universitaire D’Etudes Juridiques (DUEJ), or the Diplôme D’Etudes Economiques Générales (DEEG).
First Cycle, Vocational/Technical
First-level technical studies lead to the Brevet de Technicien Supérieur (BTS) which is a 2-year program, and the Diplôme d’États which is a 4-year program.
Second Cycle
A further year of study leads to the Licence. A Maîtrise is awarded after 1 year of study following a Licence.
Graduate programs are not currently available at the Université de Bangui.
Teacher Training
Primary school teachers are trained at an École Normale d’Instituteurs (Primary Teacher Training School) in a 2-year program leading to the Certificat d’Aptitude Pédagogique à l’Enseignement Fondamental 1. Lower secondary school teachers are trained in a 3-year program leading to the Certificat d’Aptitude Pédagogique à l’Enseignement Fondamental 2 at an École Normale d’Instituteurs (Primary Teacher Training School). A Baccalauréat is required for admission for admission to both of these programs.
Upper secondary school teachers are trained in 2-year programs leading to a Certificat d’Aptitude Pédagogique à l’Enseignement Secondaire (CAPES) or a Certificat d’Aptitude au Professorat de l’Enseignement Technique (CAPET)at the École Normale Supérieure at the Université de Bangui. A Licence is required for admission to these programs.
