Unique identification number in Cameroon: A step forward for secondary school students 🎓

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Since the 2024-2025 school year, the unique identification number has become mandatory for all secondary school students in Cameroon. This reform simplifies administrative procedures and enhances school management through the digital platform cartescolaire.cm.

A mandatory identifier for all students 🔑

To strengthen transparency and efficiency in the education sector, the Minister of Secondary Education, Prof. Nalova Lyonga, signed an informational note on September 4, 2024. According to this document, the unique identification number is now required for enrolling students in both public and private institutions. This identifier was already available during the 2023-2024 school year examinations. It allows each student to be tracked throughout their academic journey. Moreover, this measure responds to the need for modernization by leveraging suitable digital tools.

👉 Students’ opinions:

“This will make things easier for us, especially for payments and registrations. No more running around!” – Bertrand, a senior-year student.

“I hope technical issues will be well-managed since not everyone has easy access to the internet.” – Cécile, a junior-year student.

Consequences for students without a unique identification number 🚫

Not having a unique identification number could lead to several inconveniences:

• Ineligibility for official exams (BEPC, Probatoire, Baccalauréat, GCE);
• Prohibition from participating in Fenassco Ligue A competitions;
• No access to school insurance.

Additionally, private institutions that fail to comply with this reform will lose access to state subsidies. Therefore, the unique identification number is becoming an essential requirement for all stakeholders in the education sector.

👉 Avis des élèves :

“It’s a bit stressful knowing you can get blocked without this number. We hope the registration process will be simple.” – Joël, a sophomore student.

“It puts pressure on parents, especially in rural areas where things are slower.” – Amélie, a ninth-grade student.

A platform for the reform 💻

Students and parents can obtain the unique identification number through the official platform cartescolaire.cm. Simply visit the website, enter the student’s name, select their institution, and click on the « Search » button. Any student, parent, or guardian can generate the unique number by submitting the required information. Once validated, the details are sent to the email address provided during the process.

For new students, the steps involve logging into the website beforehand. After entering the phone number and password provided by the system, users click the login button and follow the instructions.

This interface simplifies administrative tasks, such as:

• Generating the unique identifier in just a few clicks;
• Paying school fees via authorized operators (MTN MoMo, Orange Money, Campost Money, etc.);
• Allowing parents to verify payments made.

Thanks to this innovation, school directors now have access to a complete payment record without needing to contact each operator individually.

Easy student transfers 🔄

The student transfer process between institutions has also been modernized. The steps are as follows:

1. Log in to cartescolaire.cm/login using your phone number;
2. Enter the unique code received via SMS;
3. Click on “Transfer students” from the dashboard;
4. Download and complete the transfer template;
5. Upload the completed file;
6. Wait for an SMS notification within 48 hours;
7. Download the validated transfer list.

These steps, while simple, ensure traceability and optimal management of transfers between institutions.

The reform of the unique identification number marks a significant step forward for education in Cameroon. However, it requires widespread adoption of digital tools by parents and students alike.

Do you think this unique identification number reform is suited to the realities of Cameroonian students and families? Share your thoughts! 😊