General Baccalaureate 2026: Over 131,000 Students Begin Six-day Examination Marathon

The 2026 session of the General Baccalaureate officially kicked off across Cameroon this Monday, May 25, with 131,629 candidates taking their written exams under high security and strict anti-fraud measures. The Minister of Secondary Education, Prof. Nalova Lyonga, confirmed that examination standards are being strictly observed following inspection tours of several centers in the capital, Yaounde. 
Accompanied by top education officials, including the Director General of the Cameroon Baccalaureate Board, OBC, Dr Étienne Roger Minkoulou, the Director of Examinations and Certification, Mr. Moussa Soule, the Minister emphasized that standard sitting arrangements - such as strict desk allocations - must be followed to maintain the integrity of the evaluation. She also warned candidates against relying on leaked or fake materials circulated on social media.
The six-day examination period, a decisive turning point for Upper Sixth (Terminale) students, began smoothly at 8:00 AM. In Yaoundé, sub-centers like the Etoug-Ebe Government Bilingual High School and Ngoa-Ekelle Government High School reported a calm, highly concentrated atmosphere. At Etoug-Ebe, where 30 candidates were seated per classroom under a one-student-per-bench rule, only four absences were recorded out of 628 expected students.
The first day of testing featured Philosophy for the scientific streams and Literature or General Knowledge for literary students, before concluding with a nationwide Computer Science exam. For many students, the pressure was palpable despite the good weather. However, some early finishers expressed strong confidence in their preparation.
The regional distribution of candidates highlights the high stakes in the capital, with the Center Region alone accounting for approximately 46,000 of the total national enrollment. Written sessions will run until Saturday, concluding with elective subjects under the close supervision of the Ministry of Secondary Education and the OBC.

The six-day examination...