Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the nort ...

has abolished school fees and is carrying out the recommendations of its 2007 Educational Forum."Benin , Unesco"
, United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization ''(

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

)'' This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the

public domain The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work to which no exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly waived, or may be inapplicable. Because those rights have expired, ...

. (Its education system used not to be free."Benin"
''Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor (2001)''

Bureau of International Labor Affairs The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) is an operating unit of the United States Department of Labor which manages the department's international responsibilities. According to its mission statement: ''“The Bureau of International La ...

U.S. Department of Labor The United States Department of Labor (DOL) is one of the United States federal executive departments, executive departments of the federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government. It is responsible for the administration of fede ...

(2002, ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the

.)) In 2018, the net primary enrollment rate was 97 percent. Gross enrollment rate in secondary education has greatly increased in the last two decades, from 21.8 percent in 2000 to 59 percent in 2016, 67.1 percent in the case of males and 50.7 percent for females. Because of a rapid increase in the enrollment rate, the student/teacher ratio rose from 36:1 in 1990 to 53:1 in 1997 but has dropped again in the last years to 39:1 (2018). In 2018, the gross enrollment ratio in tertiary education was 12.5%. The overall adult

literacy Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, hum ...

rate is 42.4 percent (2018), significantly lower than in neighbors Togo (63.7%) and Nigeria (62%). Only 31.1% of women in Benin 15 years or older are literate, although this number increases to 51.9% for the 15-24 year olds (69.8% for men). The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) finds that Benin is fulfilling only 77.6% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to education based on the country's level of income. HRMI breaks down the right to education by looking at the rights to both primary education and secondary education. While taking into consideration Benin's income level, the nation is achieving 96.5% of what should be possible based on its resources (income) for primary education but only 58.8% for secondary education.

History

By the late 1980s, under Benin's Marxist government, the quality of education was seriously eroded. By 1989, the

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty ...

system was in a state of collapse.Education: Programs
.

USAID The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $27 bi ...

Benin. ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the

. A key event in the reform of education in Benin was the national Conference on Education (Etats Généraux de l'Education, EGE) held in 1990 which adopted a national policy and strategy to improve education. Beginning in 1991, the

government of Benin The Politics of Benin take place in the framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, wherein the President of Benin is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by th ...

introduced significant changes in the Beninese education system. Major advances have been made in education, especially in the areas of access and teaching/learning conditions. The gross enrollment rate has increased from a base of 49.7% in 1990 to 96% in 2004 and girls' enrollment from 36% in 1990 to 84% in 2004. Gender balance and geographic equity have shown significant improvements in gross numbers of girls and children from disadvantaged areas attending primary schools. Nonetheless, major constraints and challenges remain.

School system

The Republic of Benin operates on a 6-4-3-3-4 system:THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF BENIN REPUBLIC
. Embassy of the United States, Cotonou, Benin. ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the

.'' * Primary school: 6 years * Junior high school: 4 years * Senior high school: 3 years * Bachelor's degree: 3 years * Master's degree: 4 years Education is compulsory for children between ages six and eleven. After spending two to three years in

kindergarten Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th ce ...

, it takes six years for them to complete and take the primary school certificate. It requires seven years to complete

junior Junior or Juniors may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * ''Junior'' (Junior Mance album), 1959 * ''Junior'' (Röyksopp album), 2009 * ''Junior'' (Kaki King album), 2010 * ''Junior'' (LaFontaines album), 2019 Films * ''Junior'' (1994 ...

and

senior high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

. At the end of the four first years of junior high school, the students have to take the O-level (Brevet d’Etudes du Premier Cycle: BEPC). After three years the students have to take the A level (Baccalauréat: BAC) exam which is the equivalent of the U.S. high school diploma. There are vocational schools in the following provinces: Atlantique littoral (city of Cotonou), Oueme Plateau (city of

Porto-Novo Porto-Novo (Portuguese: "New Port", , ; yo, Àjàṣẹ́, ), also known as Hogbonu and Ajashe, is the capital of Benin. The commune covers an area of and as of 2002 had a population of 223,552 people. Situated on an inlet of the Gulf of G ...

), Zou Colline (city of

Bohicon Bohicon or Gbohikon is a city in Benin, and a conurbation of Abomey lying 9 kilometres east of the city on the railway line from Cotonou to Parakou and on Benin's main highway RNIE 2 which joins the RNIE 4. The commune covers an area of 139 squ ...

)

Borgou Borgou is one of the twelve departments of Benin. Borgou borders the country of Nigeria and the departments of Alibori, Atakora, Collines and Donga. The capital of Borgou is Parakou. The department of Borgou was bifurcated in 1999, with its ...

(city of

Parakou Parakou is the largest city in northern Benin, with an estimated population of around 206,667 people, and capital of the Borgou Department. Administratively the commune of Parakou makes up one of Benin's 77 communes. Since 2015, its mayor is Sour ...

), Mono Couffo, Atakora, Donga and

Alibori Alibori is the largest and northernmost department (French: ''département'') of Benin. Externally the department borders the countries of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria, and internally the departments of Atakora and Borgou. The department of ...

Grading system

The grading system is from 0 to 20, with 20 being the highest. * Passing grade: 10 * Fairly good grade: 12 * Good grade: 14-15 * Very good grade: 16-17 * Excellent: 18-20

Languages of instruction

French, the official language of Benin, is generally the language of instruction.

Leading public high schools

Cotonou: * High School of Gbegamey * High School of St Rita * High School of Dantokpa * High School of Akpakpa

: * Lycee Behanzin * Lycee Toffa High School of Application: * High School of Lokossa * High School of Houffon * High School of Mathieu Bouquet (

) * High School of CEG1 Natitingou ( Atakora) * High School of Djougou ( Donga)

Higher education

The government has devoted more than 4% of GDP to education since 2009. In 2015, public expenditure amounted to 4.4% of GDP, according to the

UNESCO Institute for Statistics The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the statistical office of UNESCO and is the UN depository for cross-nationally comparable statistics on education, science and technology, culture, and communication. The UIS was established in 1999. ...

. Within total education expenditure, Benin devotes quite a large share to higher education: 0.97% of GDP in 2015. Between 2009 and 2011, the share of young people enrolled at university rose from 10% to 12% of the 18-25 age cohort, one of the highest ratios in West Africa. Student enrollment in tertiary education doubled between 2006 and 2011 from 50,225 to 110,181. These statistics encompass not only bachelor's, master's and PhD programmes but also non-degree post-secondary education. The National University of Benin system maintains ten branches: *The Campus of Abomey Calavi **The Faculty of Economics and Management (FASEG) **The Faculty of Law and Political Science (FADESP) **The Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FLASH) **The Faculty of Science and Technology (FAST) **The Faculty of Health Science (FSS) *The University of Parakou (UNIPAR) *The School of Applied Economics and Management (ENEAM) *The National School of Administration and Prosecutor Training (ENAM) *The Poly Technical School of Abomey Calavi (EPAC) *The Teachers’ Training School of Porto-Novo (ENS) **The Institute of Mathematics and Physics (IMSP) **The Faculty Agricultural Science (FSA) **America Benin (AB) Each branch is headed by a university president. Some private higher institutions are accredited by the Ministry of National Education. Altogether 94 higher institutions are accredited.

Grading system for thesis defense

* Passing: 10-12 * Fairly good grade: 12 * Good grade: 14-15 * Very good grade: 16-17 * Excellent grade: 18-20

Leading private universities

* IRGIB * African School of Economics (ASE) * PIGIER * GASA FORMATION * UCAO * UPIB *ESGT-Benin * ASSI University *IRSBAC.COM PARAKO *UPAO

References

External links

Profile of higher education in Benin
from Boston College
Colonial state and education in Benin Division, 1897–1959
from infoDev
Benin Education Fund (BEF)
Provides education support and scholarships. {{DEFAULTSORT:Education In Benin