> ![](media/image1.wmf){width="1.7284722222222222in"
> height="1.1520833333333333in"}**THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF MALI**

As in other parts of the Francophone world, the Malian educational
system inherited most of its principles from the French colonial system.
However, since independence, it has undergone a series of reforms to
meet the needs of the people. The Ministry of Education is responsible
for governing the system and implementing the policy of the government.
Instruction is given in French. The normal school year runs from
September to June.

[Grading System]{.underline}: U.S. admission officers can refer to the
following grade conversion formula for evaluating transcripts from Mali.
(NB: 16 -- 20 are rarely given)

[Mali]{.underline} [US]{.underline}

18- 20 Tres bien (Very good) A

16 -- 17.00 Tres Bien (Very Good) A

14-15.00 Bien (Good) A

12-13.99 Assez Bien (Fairly Good) B

10-11.99 Passable (Fair) C

[Fundamental Education]{.underline}: Basic education is comprised of
nine grades, divided into two cycles. The first cycle, or elementary
education, includes grades one through six. In the sixth grade, all
students take the C.E.P. (Primary Education Certificate) which grants
admission to the second cycle---grades 7 through grade 9---equivalent to
Junior High school. It is important to note that English is first
introduced and taught as a foreign language during this cycle. In the
ninth grade, students sit for a nationwide exam called the \"Dip1ome
d\'Etudes Fondamentales\" (D.E.F.). Success with the D.E.F. grants
admission to the secondary level (High school) or to
vocational/technical schools.

[Secondary Education]{.underline} Senior High School consists of grades
10 through 12. At this level, students may choose to study Arabic,
German, or Russian in addition to English. All 12^th^ graders sit for
the \"Baccalaureat\" exam, a very competitive exam to earn the High
School Diploma in Biology, Mathematics /Physics, Human Sciences, or
Language and Literature. By passing the Baccalaureat, students become
eligible to enter the University of Bamako or apply to universities
abroad.

[Vocational and Technical schools]{.underline}: Students who do not
intend to undertake long-term study programs prefer to enter two or
four-year public/private technical and vocational schools, all of which
are accredited by the Ministry of Education. Two­-year vocational and
technical schools offer the \"Certificate d\'Aptitude Professionnelle\"
(CAP) and the four-year schools offer the \"Brevet de Technicien\" (BT).

[Higher Educational Institutions]{.underline}: The University of Bamako
opened its doors eight years ago, merging several pre-existing
post-secondary institutions. The Maitrise diploma is awarded for four
years of college study. The first two years of training are equivalent
to general college coursework in the US system and are called the first
cycle. The two years are referred to as DEUG 1 and DEUG 2 (Diplome
d'Etude Universitaire General) respectively. While a student can
progress from DEUG1 to DEUG2 with C grades on the transcript, no student
will be admitted to the second cycle with any grade lower than B.
Beginning with the second year, achievement certificates are given for
each year completed. Five major faculties and two institutes provide
instruction for the first cycle: The School of Sciences and Technology
(Faculte des Sciences et Technologies-FAST), the School of Languages,
Arts and of Human Sciences (Faculte des Lettres, Arts, Sciences
Humaines-FLASH), The School of Economic and Legal Sciences (Faculte des
Sciences Juridiques et Economiques-FSJE), the School of Medicine,
Pharmacy and of Ondotostomatology (Faculte de Medecine, de Pharrnacie,
et d\'Odonto-stomatologie-FMPOS), the Institute of Management (lUG), and
the Polytechnical Rural Institute of Katiboubou.

Students then progress to the second cycle, which consists of two years
of specialized coursework, provided by the Grandes Ecoles, that is, one
of seven "Institutions of Higher Education" which include the Ecole
Normale Superieure, The Ecole Nationale D\' Administration, the Ecole
Nationale d\'Ingenieurs, the Institut Polytechnique Rural, the Ecole
Nationale des Postes et Telecommunication, I\'Ecole des Hautes Etudes
Pratiques, and the Ecole Nationale de Medecine et de Pharmacie. A
"license" certificate is awarded after the third year, and at the end of
the fourth year, students receive the \"Maitrise\" Diploma.

Opportunities for doctoral study are provided by "Institut de Formation
Superieure et de la Recherche Appliquee and medical degrees are granted
by the Ecole de Medecine, et de Pharmacie, et
d'Ondonto-stomatologie-FMPOS.

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For updated information on credentials, U.S. colleges and university
admissions officers may contact us:

Adda Ba Sy, <SyAB3@state.gov>

AMERICAN EMBASSY

P.O. Box 34

Bamako, Mali

Tel: (223) 20 70 2300; ext 2439, 2419

Or by diplomatic pouch:

EDUCATIONAL ADVISOR C/O PAO

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

2050 BAMAKO PLACE

WASHINGTON, DC 20521-2050

The following offices may be contacted directly:

Commision Nationale des Equivalences De Diplomes

Direction Nationale Des Enseignements Superieurs BP 71

Bamako, Mali

Tel: (223) 20 22 87 20

Rectorat Universite du Mali

BP E 2528 Bamako, Mali

Tel: (223) 20 22 1933

Fax: (223) 20 12 1932

[Student Advising Services]{.underline}: IRC-Bamako provides student
orientation sessions every Thursday afternoon for up to 40 students. The
Bamako IRC uses the Education USA website as well as university catalogs
as primary resources.

Individualized advising, including internet searches in college and
university catalogs, downloading applications forms, and application
assistance is available to students upon request. Translation of grade
transcripts and diplomas is also available. The IRC organizes
pre-departure orientation sessions for students traveling to the US, to
help with their adjustment to US life and university culture.
Additionally, IRC Bamako provides outreach programs in local high
schools and university departments. Through public affairs activities
and English workshops in other regions of the country, IRC Bamako
extends its services to audiences who cannot visit the center.