Brazzaville meeting sets the tone for 2026 exams
In Brazzaville, Education Minister Jean-Luc Mouthou used a meeting held on Jan. 23, 2026 to clarify participation rules for the Republic of the Congo’s State exams. The exchange took place in the conference room of the Lycée de la Révolution de Ouenzé.
Baccalaureate 2026: BEPC timing becomes decisive
The minister said candidates for the 2026 baccalaureate whose B.E.P.C. is less than two years old will not be allowed to sit this year’s session. In practical terms, the rule makes the date of the B.E.P.C. a key eligibility checkpoint for registration and validation.
The message, delivered to school leaders and education officials, was framed as a call for strict compliance with existing regulations. Mouthou stressed that rules should be applied consistently, so that eligibility decisions are the same across schools and departments.
CEPE: minimum age requirement confirmed
For the C.E.P.E., the minister indicated that pupils who are at least 10 years old may register. The clarification is intended to guide schools and families during the final days of the registration period, as they prepare documents and confirm candidate lists.
Education officials present at the meeting emphasized that the age threshold should be checked carefully during registration, in line with the instruction to apply the rules without exceptions.
Registration deadline: Jan. 31 across the country
Mouthou also reminded schools that the registration campaign will close on Jan. 31, 2026 throughout the national territory. The deadline is presented as a firm milestone for completing files, paying official fees and finalizing candidate information.
With the closing date approaching, the minister’s guidance aims to reduce last-minute confusion and ensure that administrative steps are completed in time for the 2026 sessions.
Official fees: schools urged to follow the set prices
A major point of the minister’s intervention focused on the cost of exam registrations. He called on schools to respect the official registration fees set for State exams, signalling that fee discipline is part of the broader effort to keep access fair for families.
The minister’s warning was especially directed at private schools. According to the guidance given, private institutions that do not comply with the rules will not be allowed to present any candidates this year.
Private schools face redirection of candidates to public schools
Under the measures described during the meeting, learners from non-compliant private schools will be redirected to the nearest public schools. The goal, as explained, is to avoid penalizing pupils while ensuring that institutions meet the requirements for presenting candidates.
Inspecteur général de l’enseignement David Boké detailed how the process will work. “They will not present candidates this year. We will register these candidates in the nearest public establishments,” he said, referring to private schools that fail to meet the rules.
Promoters asked to submit files and corresponding fees
The instructions also address the role of private school promoters. They are expected to hand in the students’ files and the corresponding registration fees, so that the administration can complete the transfer toward public establishments where necessary.
Education authorities presented this as an operational solution: candidates remain in the system, while the responsibility for compliance is placed on the institutions that manage registrations.
A drive for better organization and equal treatment
The measures announced by Mouthou were described as part of a wider effort to “clean up” the organization of State exams and guarantee equity among all candidates. The minister’s language focused on order, predictability and equal standards for public and private sectors.
By clarifying who can register, by setting a clear deadline and by insisting on official fees, the ministry is seeking smoother exam preparations. For families, the main takeaway is to check eligibility criteria early and finalize registrations before Jan. 31.