The Department of General Secondary Education (DGSE) is in charge of General Secondary Education such as Government Secondary Schools (GSS) Government High Schools (GHS) in both government and of the private sectors.

General Secondary sector is divided into two main groups; Arts and Sciences.

The duration of studies is five (5) years for the 1^st Cycle and two (2) years for the 2^nd Cycle. After five years of studies, students sit in for the General Certificate of Examination Ordinary Level (GCE OL) examination. In the seventh year, students sit in for the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE AL) examination in any chosen discipline.

Students who have completed the secondary school education can continue their university education in Higher Institutions like:

• State Universities (Yaounde, Douala, Buea, Bamenda, Ngoundere, Maroua, and Dschang).
• Higher Technical Teacher Training Colleges-HTTTC (Yaounde, Douala, Kumba, Bambili, Ebolowa, Bertoua and Maroua).
• Engineering Schools/Polytechnic (Yaounde, Douala, Maroua)
• National School of Agro-Industrial Sciences (ENSAI) Ngoundere
• Higher School of Economics and Commercial Sciences (ESSEC) Douala
• Tourism Schools
• School of Hotel Management

The list continues.

The Secondary Technical and Vocational Education Department is in charge of Technical Secondary schools, namely the Technical High Schools and Colleges. A distinction is made between the Government Technical College (GTC) and Girls Technical Colleges (GGTC). The two types of fields are: Tertiary Sciences and Technology (STT) and Industrial Sciences and Technology (IND).

The duration of studies is 4 years for the First Cycle and 3 years for the Second Cycle. At the end of the First Cycle, the Vocational training qualification (CAP) is awarded meanwhile by the end of the Second year of the Second Cycle, students obtain a Technical Probatoire Certificate which corresponds to the field of study chosen in 2^nde and in the final year of studies students obtain a Baccalaureat or the Technical Certificate with regards to the field

However, students who have successfully completed their Secondary School can go to one of the Higher Education institutions listed below:

- Higher Normal School of Technical Education ENSETs (Douala, Kumba, Bambili, Ebolowa)

-Polytechnic Schools

- ENSAI, ESSEC of Douala

- Mining schools

- Tourism schools

- Hotel Management schools

- State Universities (Yaounde, Douala, Buea, Bamenda, Ngaoundere, Dschang, Maroua)

The list continues.

Teacher Training Colleges are vocational training institutions responsible for the basic training, advanced training or refresher training and the specialisation of teachers of General or Technical Education.

There are two types: Government Teachers Training College (GTTC) and Government Technical Teachers Training College (GTTTC).

The duration of training varies from one to three years. Holders of Technical and Vocational Education Examination Advanced Level (TVEEAL) spend one year, and holders of Technical and Vocational Education Examination Intermediate Level (TVEEIL) spend three years.

At the end of this training, as their choice may be, the student teachers sit in for a certificate examination called Teachers Grade 1 Certificate known in its French acronym as CAPIEMP or a Technical Teachers’ Grade 1 Certificate known as CAPIET in French. Holders of the CAPIEMP are those endowed with professional skills to teach nursery or primary school pupils. Technical Education Teachers are trained to teach in Technical Education Colleges, SAR/SM and Rapid Vocational Training Centres.