Education in Cameroon
Cameroon runs two school systems side by side, one French-speaking and one English-speaking, inherited from French and British colonial rule. The 1998 education law recognises both: the same overall structure (two years of nursery, six of primary, seven of secondary), but different classes, exams and pacing. On one side the CEP, BEPC, Probatoire and Baccalauréat; on the other the FSLC, GCE O Level and GCE A Level.
This section brings together what you need to know, from nursery school to the job market: how each exam works and how many pass it each year, what the eleven state universities and the professional schools offer, what schooling costs, how to become a teacher, what teachers earn and how postings work, and what awaits graduates looking for work.
Key figures
- 4.9 millionprimary pupils in 2021-22 (MINEDUB, INS)
- 2 millionsecondary pupils in 2023-24 (MINESEC)
- 413,888students in higher education in 2021-22 (INS)
- 42.14%pass rate at the general Baccalauréat in 2026 (OBC)
- 67.88%overall GCE pass rate in 2026 (GCE Board)
- 11state universities, three of them created in 2022
- 50,000 CFA francsannual fees at a state university, since 1993
- 72.6 to 78%of adults can read and write (UIS 2018, INS 2022)
Where to start
- The Cameroonian education systemTwo subsystems, four ministries, from nursery to university: classes, ages, exams and key figures for schooling in Cameroon.
- The Baccalauréat in Cameroon: series, papers and gradesGeneral and technical series, the OBC's role, the 10/20 rule, grades and timetable: all about the Cameroonian Bac, with 2026 figures.
- GCE O Level and A Level in Cameroon: the Cameroon GCE BoardGCE Ordinary Level in Form Five, Advanced Level in Upper Sixth, technical TVEE: subjects, entry rules, fees and 2026 session figures.
- Higher education in CameroonEleven state universities, some 430 private institutes, the LMD system and admission: a guide to higher education in Cameroon.
- Teachers' pay in Cameroon: salary scale, allowances and demandsHow much do PLEG, PCEG and primary teachers earn in Cameroon? Categories, published figures, allowances, 2023-2024 rises and arrears.
- How much school costs in Cameroon, from nursery to Upper SixthFree primary school, secondary fees, PTA levies capped at 25,000 CFA, exam fees and private tuition: the sourced figures.
The education system
How schooling is organised, and where the dual French- and English-speaking system comes from. · 3 pages
- The Cameroonian education systemTwo subsystems, four ministries, from nursery to university: classes, ages, exams and key figures for schooling in Cameroon.
- History of education in CameroonFrom the mission schools of Bimbia and Douala to today's reforms: how Cameroon built two school systems.
- The English-speaking education subsystemClass 1 to Upper Sixth, FSLC, Common Entrance, GCE O and A Level: all about English-speaking schools in Cameroon and the crisis.
Certificates and exams
From the CEP to the baccalauréat, from the FSLC to GCE A Level: what each exam is. · 6 pages
- CEP, FSLC and Common Entrance: the end of primary school in CameroonCEP and the sixième entrance exam for francophones, FSLC and Common Entrance for anglophones: dates, papers and figures for 2025 and 2026.
- The BEPC in Cameroon: papers, coefficients and pass rulesThe BEPC ends Troisième: who runs it, the 2026 papers and coefficients, the 10/20 rule, the bilingual BEPC and figures from recent sessions.
- The Probatoire in Cameroon: the exam that opens the door to TerminaleThe Probatoire, taken at the end of Première, decides entry into Terminale: series, OBC organisation, the 10/20 rule and 2026 session figures.
- The Baccalauréat in Cameroon: series, papers and gradesGeneral and technical series, the OBC's role, the 10/20 rule, grades and timetable: all about the Cameroonian Bac, with 2026 figures.
- GCE O Level and A Level in Cameroon: the Cameroon GCE BoardGCE Ordinary Level in Form Five, Advanced Level in Upper Sixth, technical TVEE: subjects, entry rules, fees and 2026 session figures.
- Technical and vocational secondary education in CameroonCETICs, technical high schools, CAP, technical Bac, BT and anglophone TVEE: technical education teaches nearly one secondary pupil in four.
Results and rankings
Pass rates year by year and the top-ranked schools. · 3 pages
- Baccalauréat and Probatoire results in Cameroon, year by yearBac and Probatoire pass rates from 2015 to 2026, OBC figures, regions, series, how to check results and how to appeal.
- GCE O Level and A Level results in CameroonGCE O Level and A Level pass rates from 2015 to 2026, GCE Board figures, the impact of the Anglophone crisis and how to check results.
- Cameroon's best secondary schools: the official rankingsThe OBC's official ranking and the GCE Board honour roll: who comes top, on what criterion, and the history of Cameroon's renowned schools.
Higher education
Universities, professional schools, private institutions, BTS and HND: where to study after school. · 4 pages
- Higher education in CameroonEleven state universities, some 430 private institutes, the LMD system and admission: a guide to higher education in Cameroon.
- Grandes écoles and entrance exams in CameroonPolytechnic, ENS, medicine, ESSTIC, IRIC, IUTs, SUP'PTIC: where, how and at what cost to enter Cameroon's grandes écoles.
- Private universities and institutes in CameroonAround 430 accredited private institutes, state-university oversight, the 2024-2026 sanctions and how to check that a school is recognised.
- BTS and HND in Cameroon: short post-secondary qualificationsBTS and HND: two years of study, a national MINESUP exam, fees of 35,500 to 55,500 CFA francs and a 14.19% BTS pass rate in 2026.
State universities
One profile per state university: history, faculties, schools and strengths. · 11 pages
- University of Yaoundé IHeir to the 1962 federal university, the University of Yaoundé I (Ngoa-Ekellé) had 40,024 students in 2026: faculties, schools and admission.
- University of Yaoundé II-SoaLaw, economics, international relations and journalism: the University of Yaoundé II at Soa, home to IRIC, ESSTIC and IFORD. Programmes and admission.
- University of DoualaFive faculties plus ESSEC, Polytechnic, ENSET and the IUT: the University of Douala, born of the 1977 university centre. Campuses, exams, admission.
- University of DschangBorn of the agronomy school, the University of Dschang has six faculties, the Fotso Victor IUT in Bandjoun and branches in several regions.
- University of BueaCameroon's first English-speaking university, the University of Buea has 33,000 students (2024-25) at the foot of Mount Cameroon. Faculties and admission.
- University of BamendaCreated in 2010 at Bambili, the University of Bamenda is Cameroon's second English-speaking university: faculties, schools and admission.
- University of NgaoundéréThe University of Ngaoundéré: history, 5 faculties and 5 professional schools (ENSAI, IUT, ESMV…), the Dang campus, admission and student life.
- University of MarouaUniversity of Maroua: founded in 2008, its teacher training college, polytechnic, Kaélé mining school, four faculties, campuses and admission.
- University of GarouaUniversity of Garoua, created in January 2022: decrees, eight institutions including the medical school, Djoumassi campus, admission and fees.
- University of BertouaUniversity of Bertoua, created in 2022: its ENS, ISABEE in Bélabo, ESSUT in Abong-Mbang, Batouri mining school, faculties, admission and rector.
- University of EbolowaUniversity of Ebolowa, the South's first state university, created in January 2022: decrees, institutions, Mekalat campus and what is still unknown.
What it costs
School fees, exam fees, university registration and student housing. · 2 pages
- How much school costs in Cameroon, from nursery to Upper SixthFree primary school, secondary fees, PTA levies capped at 25,000 CFA, exam fees and private tuition: the sourced figures.
- How much higher education costs in CameroonUniversity fees of 50,000 CFA since 1993, entrance exams, private institutes, halls and mini-cités, merit grants: the real cost of a year.
Being a teacher
Training, pay, postings and retirement of teachers. · 4 pages
- Becoming a teacher in Cameroon: training colleges, entrance exams and gradesENIEG for primary, ENS and ENSET for secondary, contract schemes and civil-service entry: the routes into teaching in Cameroon.
- Teachers' pay in Cameroon: salary scale, allowances and demandsHow much do PLEG, PCEG and primary teachers earn in Cameroon? Categories, published figures, allowances, 2023-2024 rises and arrears.
- Teacher postings and transfers in CameroonPostings, taking up duty, abandoned posts and regional imbalances: what is known about how teachers are deployed in Cameroon.
- Teachers' retirement in Cameroon: age, pension and private sectorAge 60 for civil-servant teachers, early retirement possible, CNPS for private schools: what the rules say about teachers' retirement.
Our method
Every figure in this section comes from a source listed at the bottom of the page: official texts, government bodies, specialist organisations, the Cameroonian press and international organisations. Fees, timescales and results change often, so they are always dated. When sources disagree, we say so rather than pick one.
Sources consulted
- CEFAN, Université Laval — Loi n° 98/004 du 14 avril 1998 d'orientation de l'éducation
- INS — Rapport d'analyse de l'annuaire statistique 2022 du secteur de l'éducation et de la formation
- MINESEC — Annuaire statistique 2024-2025
- Journal du Cameroun — Le Bac ESG 2026 affiche un taux de réussite de 42,14 %
- Journal du Cameroun — Démenti : les droits universitaires n'augmentent pas (janvier 2023)
- Wikipédia — Enseignement supérieur au Cameroun
- Cameroon Tribune — 2026 GCE Results Released: Global Pass Rate Drops To 67.88 Per cent