Secondary education in Mauritania encompasses lower secondary or middle school for 4 years and a three-year high school program. secondary education is in two streams, the technical and the general stream. General and technical secondary education is provided in high schools and aims at enabling the students to acquire theoretical and practical general or technical knowledge.
At the end of junior secondary school, students take a school-leaving certificate called the Brevet d’Etudes du Premier Cycle (BEPC) examination which will allow them entry into the senior secondary or high school. After this stage, students can choose to either continue with their education or go to the workplace. For those who proceed to high school, they can take either of the two streams, general or technical, and study for a further 3 years. upon completion, they will sit for a school-leaving examination, the Baccalaureate.
- Grades: 7-13
- Duration: years
- Primary Languages: Arabic, French
- Terms : 2 terms
- Admission Term: throughout the year
The General stream of secondary high school education accepts holders of the Brevet d’Etudes du Premier Cycle (BEPC) and covers three years, at the end of which the students sit for the Baccalaureat examination which is equivalent to the GCE Advanced Level certificate.
Those who chose the technical or vocational stream will study for at least two years and will be awarded the Certificat d’Aptitude Professionnel (CAP) or the four-year Brevet de Technicien (BT)
Let’s take a brief look at some international schools offering some of the best education for locals and expatriates in Mauritania.
TLC International School
This is a private international school offering an American-style education in the English medium. It offers education from kindergarten to high school classes. The school is fully accredited and accepts a diversity of students from various nationalities, of different races and ethnicities. Secondary education here is divided into 2 sections, middle school, and high school.
secondary-school Section
- Established: 2006
- Grades: 7-13
- Duration of study: 7 years (4 years middle school and 3 years high school)
- Student population: 180
- Teacher-student ratio: 1:5
- International student representation: 26+ countries
- Primary Languages: English
Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), Ministry of Education in Mauritania.
Middle school- middle school here aims to produce responsible young adults through academic and personal development. It gives students foundational skills and prepares them for the rigorous high school program. The middle school offers a maths program, Science program, Social Studies program, English and Language Arts program, French and Arabic programs, to mention but a few. They also have an opportunity to take part in community service as well.
High school- High school students are immersed in a rigorous academic program that prepares them for university education.
Prospective Students- parents should download the school application form and send it Along with the following documents:
- the last two years of transcripts
- vaccination records
- a copy of the student’s original birth certificate
- a copy of the student’s passport
Facilities- The facilities offered include 17 classrooms, a spacious library, a cafeteria, reception, business office, and kitchen. The students have a large play area for recess and a soccer field for various sports activities.
Extracurricular activities- The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities in the afternoons including Soccer, Homework Club, Music, Student Council Mystery Activities, Model UN, Crochet, Spanish Club, Arts and Crafts, Gardening Club, Table Tennis/Indoor Games, Flag (American) Football, and Robotics.
American International School of Nouakchott
This is an international coeducational, nonprofit school that offers education from kindergarten to the 12th grade. It is dedicated to assisting students to develop the requisite skills to become lifelong learners and prepare them to become responsible and productive global citizens. It also produces students who Understand and respect social and cultural diversity. The school also offers an accredited American International education that is committed to excellence and producing the best.
Secondary school section
- Founded: 1978
- Address: US Embassy B.P. 3107, Nouakchott, Mauritania
- grades: kindergarten to 12th grade
- duration: 7 years
- Language of instruction: English
- Terms: 4 quarters
- Accreditation: Middle States Association (MSA).
The school is divided into the middle school and high school sections.
Middle school- Middle school teaches each student to guide their discovery, constructing meaning from information, instruction, and experience. The school offers High academic standards, support, and encouragement to prepare each student to be successful in high school.
High School- the school’s high school program fosters student independence with learning tha develops, lifelong curiosity, problem-solving skills, confidence in oneself, and responsible citizenship through purposeful learning experiences. The program is modeled after the US model with a focus on English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and French. Advanced Placement (AP) courses that are here include Modern World History, French, Environmental Science, US History, and English. Elective subjects here include Physical Education, Art and Music.
Tuition and fees- the following are the fees to be paid by secondary students for 2021-22:
Schedule of Tuition and Fees 2021-22
Grades 6-12: $18,150 per School Year
Additional Fees:
Annual capital development fee: $900 for all students Kindergarten to12th
First time enrollment fee: $100 for new students
A $500 non-refundable deposit will be required to guarantee a child’s place at the school following acceptance. This amount will be deducted from the first tuition invoice.
Extracurricular activities- students can enjoy a hive of extracurricular activities and clubs including Soccer, Handball, Basketball, Volleyball, Running, Tae Kwon Do, Puzzles, Homework Club, Drawing, swimming, basketball, soccer, basketball, bike club, running club, dance club, water aerobics, handball, Science Lab and more.
