2026 Exams: Bonus holiday week becomes revision marathon
An additional week of Easter holidays has been granted to students across Cameroon. This was following the extension linked to the FENASSCO, set to begin on Monday, April 20, 2026. Initially intended to give pupils more time to rest, this extra week is already shaping up to become a full-scale revision period for candidates preparing for national exams.
Across several neighborhoods of Yaounde, preparation is underway. In areas such as Move-ada, Odza and Vogt, tutoring centres report increasing demand. « We start at 8 a.m. and sometimes finish around 2 p.m. », says Arnaud, a candidate for Baccalauréat. This extra week is a real opportunity for me because I feel like this is my last chance to catchup », he concludes.
For Mireille, candidate to probatoire, the routine feels just as intense. « I attend revision classes everyday except Sunday. We still have a lot to cover. If I stay home, lose time, » she explains. With only weeks to go before the first papers, the official calendar of the 2026 national exams has become a key reference for candidates.
Private tutoring centres under pressure
The additional week has led to a surge in demand for private tutoring sessions, now a key part of exam preparation for many students sitting for BEPC, Probatoire and Baccalauréat. At Le Tremplin, a private tutoring institution in the Vogt neighborhood in Yaounde, the time table for the week seems packed and ready for the tutors to take action.
« During the school year, students accumulate gaps in their learning, » the tutor explains, « our role now is guiding them and revision classes help them catch up quickly. »
For students, this period is marked by both motivation and growing pressure. But behind this discipline is often family support and financial sacrifices. Many parents invest in tutoring classes, hoping to improve their children’s chances of success.
Beyond the classrooms, this final stretch also highlights inequalities in access to preparation. While some students benefit from structured revision programs in private centres, others rely on personal study or limited school support.
