Benin schools primary or secondary follows the education system of the French. The standard and attendance in the primary
Benin Schools were great during the colonial period due to the missionary activity. But the enrollment to the primary schools eventually dropped.
Great reforms were introduced in the education system of Benin in 1976 where the government wanted to do away with the French influence and to conform to the ideologies of Marx and Lenin. But the reforms failed and the schools of Benin continued to follow the French model of education. The primary education was made free in Benin from the age six to twelve. After completing primary education, the students then have to undergo six years education in the secondary schools in Benin. The secondary schools of Benin can be categorized as:
- General
- Technical
- Vocational Secondary schools
The enrollment of the boys during the 80s in the primary schools were double than the girls. The government of Benin took great initiatives along with the other organizations to promote education in girls in Benin. Their hard work and effort increased girls' enrollment in primary schools from 73% in 2001 to 84% in 2004.
The schools of Benin can be categorized as public and private. Private schools have great facilities of education and are usually located in the cities. Adult literacy rate according to the 2000-2004 Unicef statistics, male is 48% and female is 23%.Though a number of schools have been built since past few years but yet there is lack of schools in the rural areas.
