The Republic of Benin operates on a 6-4-3-3-4 system:
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, it takes six years for them to complete and take the primary school certificate. Overall it requires seven years to complete both junior and senior high school. 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). Then 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 five vocational schools, located in five of the twelve provinces: Atlantique littoral (City of Cotonou), Oueme Plateau (city of Porto-Novo), Zou Colline (city of Bohicon) Borgou (city of Parakou), Mono Couffo, Atakora, Donga and Alibori.