Central Data Catalog

The Concours National is administered annually by the Bureau des Évaluations du Système Éducatif, Ministère de l' Enseignement de Base et Secondaire, de l'Enseignement des Métiers, de la Formation Professionnelle et de l'Alphabétisation, to grade 6 (ISCED 1) students in public, private and “sous-convention” schools. “Sous-convention” schools are religious institutions that are subsidised by the government.

The Concours National is a high-stake and mandatory examination that certifies completion of primary education. It is a requirement for students wishing to pursue lower-secondary education (ISCED 2).

The Concours National is a written examination, administered face-to-face and delivered through paper-pencil tests. All test-takers are presented with the same cognitive booklets or tests, which are aligned with the national curriculum.

The Concours National serves the following purposes:

- student certification for completion of primary education

- student selection to higher education programmes or admission into specific courses or tracks

- school or educator accountability

- sub-national level monitoring of learning outcomes

- monitoring education quality levels

The Concours National accommodates students with special needs, by providing test materials in braille for students with visual impairment.

Census (all students at the given grades or ages)

Results are reported at the student, school, sub-national and national levels. Data are disaggregated by sex, geographic location (urban and rural) and type of schools (public, private and "sous-convention").

Results are published in reports, which are available in print only. Examination results are announced on the school radio, the radio of the Ministère de l'Enseignement de Base et Secondaire, de l'Enseignement des Métiers, de la Formation Professionnelle et de l'Alphabétisation which mainly broadcasts educational programmes.