Chad

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Chad in a nutshell

Source : http://www.cia.gov

Chad (French: Tchad, Arabic: تشاد‎ Tshād), officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west. Due to its distance from the sea and its largely desert climate, the country is sometimes referred to as the "Dead Heart of Africa".

The population of Chad is just over 10.7 million (CIA July 2011 est.): 26% live in urban areas and 74% in rural ones. The country's population is young: an estimated 47% is under 15. The birth rate is estimated at 42 births per 1,000 people, the mortality rate at 16.69. The life expectancy is 47.2 years

Chad is divided into three major geographical regions: a desert zone in the north, an arid Sahelian belt in the centre and a more fertile Sudanese savanna zone in the south. Lake Chad, after which the country is named, is the largest wetland in Chad and the second largest in Africa. Chad's highest peak is the Emi Koussi in the Sahara, and N'Djamena,(formerly Fort-Lamy), the capital, is the largest city.

Politically, Chad is divided since February 2008 into 22 regions.

Chad is home to over 200 different ethnic and linguistic groups, which create diverse social structure. Arabic and French are the official languages. Islam is the most widely practiced religion.

School-level education

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Primary level Primary education begins age six in larger cities, and seven in more rural areas. This level is a six year curriculum and is divided into three cycles of two years each. 1st level: cours préparatoire 1 (CP1), 2nd level: cours préparatoire 2 (CP2), 3rd level: cours élémentaire 1 (CE1), 4th level: cours élémentaire 2 (CE2), 5th level: cours moyen 1(CM1), 6th level: cours moyen 2 (CM2). the CEP, or Certificat d'Etudes Primaires (primary skills certification), is administered to all children. Those who successfully pass are admitted to secondary schools, while the others are directed to vocational and technical schools.

Secondary level Secondary education is designed after the French system and comprises seven years divided into two stages. The first is four years and leads to the Brevet d'Etudes du Premier Cycle, (Junior High School Diploma) or BEPC. Students must pass this to continue to the next level. In the second stage of three years pupils enter into a stream of either humanities, economics, math, or natural sciences. These three years are usually spent in a lycée (an academic-track high school), and they end in the national Baccalauréat exam, a prerequisite for admission to the university. At the secondary level, instruction is in either French or Arabic, emphasis depending on the geographical location of the school.

Vocational or Technical had has a two-tier system of vocational and technical education. Students can enter a six-year program leading to the CAP, or Certificat d'Aptitude Professionelle (professional skills certification), in a variety of manual and technical fields.

Further and Higher education

Universities in Chad

1. Université de N'Djaména

References

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