Glossary — Sahel EDU words explained

School life

absence threshold

The number of unexcused hours of absence after which a sanction is proposed.

Example : At 10 unexcused hours, a warning is proposed.

class council

The meeting of a class's teachers at the end of a term: each student's results are reviewed and decisions taken (commendation, warning, promotion).

Example : At the 1st-term class council, 4 students receive a commendation.

deputy head

The person in charge of studies in a secondary school: timetables, marks, follow-up of teachers. They assist the head.

Example : The deputy head validates the marks before report cards are issued.

disciplinary board

The meeting that examines a student's serious misconduct and proposes a sanction. The parents are summoned.

Example : After three fights, the student appears before the disciplinary board with his father.

discreet mode

A setting for schools in at-risk areas: the address, map and photos are removed from the public website.

Example : A school in the North turns on discreet mode: the public site no longer gives its address.

lesson log

The book where the teacher records what was taught and the homework set.

Example : The lesson log of Form 1 A says: "Lesson 5, exercises 1 to 4 for Thursday".

network number

The student's number across the whole Sahel EDU network. They keep it if they change school within the network, and their record follows them.

Example : A girl moving from one network school to another keeps the same network number.

repeater

A student who repeats the same class the following year.

Example : Awa, who is repeating Form 4, takes Form 4 again this year.

second foreign language (LV2)

The second foreign language, chosen in addition to French and English: German, Spanish, Arabic, Italian or Chinese.

Example : The Form 3 pupils split between "Spanish" and "German" groups.

senior supervisor

The person in charge of student discipline and absences.

Example : The senior supervisor excuses an absence after reading the parents' note.

student number

The number that identifies a student inside the school. It does not change from year to year.

Example : Student number 0412: type it to find the student.

Marks and report cards

coefficient

The weight of a subject in the average: the bigger it is, the more the subject counts.

Example : Mathematics coefficient 4, drawing coefficient 1: a maths mark counts four times as much.

competency-based approach

A way of assessing what the student can do in a real situation, not only what was learnt by heart.

Example : We mark how the student solves a problem from everyday life.

evaluation sequence

An assessment period of about a month. As a rule, the year has six sequences, two per term.

Example : Sequences 1 and 2 give the 1st-term average.

GPA

Grade Point Average: an average in points, from 0 to 4 or 5, used by English-language schools and universities.

Example : A GPA of 3.5 out of 4 is a very good result.

grade

The rating given according to the average: pass, fairly good, good, very good…

Example : With an average of 14.5, the student gets the grade "Good".

grading scale

The marking scale: out of 20, out of 10, out of 100, in letters (A to F) or as a GPA.

Example : A test marked out of 10 is brought to a scale of 20 on the report card.

honour roll

The list of the best students of a period, with commendations or encouragement.

Example : Students above 14 are placed on the honour roll.

rank

The student's place in the class according to the average: 2 / 48 means second out of 48 students.

Example : Rank 1 / 52: the student is top of the class.

report card

The official document giving a student's marks, average, rank and comments for a period.

Example : The term 1 report card is handed to the parents before marks are published online.

term

One of the three main periods of the school year. Each term ends with a report card.

Example : Term 1 runs from September to December.

transcript

The document listing all of a student's marks over a period or a year.

Example : A transcript is asked for when enrolling in another school.

weighted average

An average where each mark is multiplied by its subject's coefficient, then divided by the sum of the coefficients.

Example : Maths 15 (coef. 4) and drawing 10 (coef. 1): (15 × 4 + 10 × 1) ÷ 5 = 14.

Exams and diplomas

Baccalaureate

The exam at the end of the final year of the French-speaking secondary system. The diploma opens the way to university.

Example : The Bac C is the maths and physical sciences stream.

BEPC

The lower secondary certificate: the exam at the end of the first secondary cycle, in the French-speaking system.

Example : At the end of the lower cycle, the student sits the BEPC.

BT

The technician certificate: the diploma at the end of the technical upper cycle, the counterpart of the Baccalaureate in general education.

Example : A student in the F2 stream prepares for the BT.

CAP

The vocational aptitude certificate: a technical diploma that shows you master a trade (sewing, masonry, electricity…).

Example : A dressmaking student prepares for the CAP over three years.

CEP

The primary school leaving certificate: the end-of-primary exam. In the English-speaking system it is the First School Leaving Certificate.

Example : The final-year primary pupil sits the CEP in June.

GCE

General Certificate of Education: the exams of the English-speaking sub-system, Ordinary Level (end of Form 5) then Advanced Level (end of Upper Sixth).

Example : A Form 5 student prepares for the GCE Ordinary Level.

probatoire

The exam taken at the end of Lower Sixth (Première). Passing it gives access to the final year.

Example : After the probatoire, the student moves to the final year to prepare the Baccalaureate.

stream

The branch of the upper cycle: A (arts), C (maths and physics), D (maths and life sciences), TI (IT), F (industrial and health technologies), G (management and commerce).

Example : A student in stream D studies mostly maths, chemistry and life sciences.

Education systems

credit

Points that measure the workload of a unit. A semester is worth 30 credits, a bachelor's degree 180.

Example : The "Algebra 1" unit is worth 6 credits.

LMD

Bachelor-Master-Doctorate: higher education organised in 3 + 2 + 3 years, by semesters and credits.

Example : A bachelor's student earns 180 credits over six semesters.

teaching unit (UE)

A block of higher-education courses (for example "Algebra 1") with its credits, which is passed or not.

Example : The student passes the "Algebra 1" unit with 12 out of 20.

Islamic education

basmala

The phrase "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful", written at the top of documents in Islamic schools.

Example : The basmala is printed at the top of the report card if the school wishes.

hifz

Memorising the Qur'an by heart.

Example : A hifz student recites his lesson to his teacher every day.

Hijri date

The date in the Islamic calendar, which counts the years since the Hijra (the year 622).

Example : The report card shows the date in the Gregorian calendar and the Hijri date.

hizb

One of the 60 portions of the Qur'an: a hizb is half a juz.

Example : The student has memorised 8 hizb this year.

juz

One of the 30 equal parts of the Qur'an.

Example : Finishing juz 30 (juz' amma) is often the first step.

maahad

An Islamic institute: it teaches the Qur'an, the Arabic language and Islamic sciences, often alongside general subjects.

Example : The maahad has Qur'an memorisation in the morning and general lessons in the afternoon.

Money and school fees

arrears

What the family still owes from past years or periods.

Example : He still owes 25,000 FCFA in arrears from last year.

bursar

The person who handles the school's money: collects fees, issues receipts and pays expenses.

Example : The bursar collects the instalments and gives each family a receipt.

deposit

Money paid in at the bank or by mobile money, declared with a deposit slip. It counts as "paid" only once checked.

Example : The family pays 75,000 FCFA into the bank and declares the deposit in Sahel EDU.

discount

A reduction granted on an amount to be paid.

Example : 10% discount for the second child of the same family.

due date

The last day to pay an instalment. After it, the family is "late".

Example : Due date of the 2nd instalment: 15 January.

instalment

A part of the fees to be paid on a fixed date.

Example : Fees are paid in three instalments: at the start of the year, in January, in April.

mobile money

Paying with your phone, through Orange Money or MTN MoMo, without going to a bank.

Example : The father pays the 2nd instalment from his phone at 9 pm.

pro rata

A proportional calculation: you only pay for the part of the period actually used.

Example : A school that starts on the 15th of the month pays only half of that month.

PTA

The Parents-Teachers Association (APEE in French). It collects a contribution for school life, in a fund separate from the fees.

Example : The 5,000 FCFA PTA contribution pays to repair the benches.

receipt

The proof of a payment. Every Sahel EDU receipt has a number and a QR Code that can be checked.

Example : After paying 50,000 FCFA, the family keeps receipt no. 2026-0412.

reconciliation

Checking that the declared deposits really appear on the bank statement.

Example : The bursar imports the statement: each deposit found turns to "verified".

scholarship

Support that pays all or part of a student's school fees.

Example : A 50% scholarship brings fees of 100,000 down to 50,000 FCFA.

subscription

What the school pays to use Sahel EDU: monthly, quarterly or yearly. The first period is charged pro rata.

Example : A quarterly subscription runs from 1 January to 31 March.

tuition fees

The money a family pays for a child's schooling, often in several instalments.

Example : Tuition for Form 1: 150,000 FCFA a year, paid in three instalments.

unpaid balance

An amount owed whose due date has passed.

Example : Three families in Form 3 A have an unpaid balance on the 2nd instalment.

Law and administration

addendum

A signed paper that changes a contract in force, without rewriting all of it.

Example : An addendum to the agreement sets the new price from January.

birth certificate

The official document that proves a student's identity and date of birth. It is required for exam classes.

Example : Without a birth certificate, a final-year student cannot be registered for the exam.

certificate

A document that certifies a fact (enrolment, success, employment…). On Sahel EDU it is signed and can be checked by QR Code.

Example : A certificate of enrolment is used to register the child with an insurer.

CNPS

The National Social Insurance Fund: it receives employees' social contributions (pension, work accidents, allowances).

Example : The school declares its employees' salaries to the CNPS every month.

exeat

The written permission to leave one school in order to be admitted to another.

Example : The father asks for his daughter's exeat before enrolling her in another school.

MINEDUB

The Ministry of Basic Education: it runs nursery and primary schools.

Example : MINEDUB organises the First School Leaving Certificate at the end of primary school.

MINESEC

The Ministry of Secondary Education: it runs the general and technical secondary schools.

Example : MINESEC sets the timetable of the BEPC and probatoire exams.

MINESUP

The Ministry of Higher Education: it oversees universities and institutes.

Example : A private university is authorised by MINESUP.

OHADA

The Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa: the same rules for companies and contracts in 17 African countries, including Cameroon.

Example : An LLC created in Cameroon follows the OHADA rules.

proprietor

The person or company that founded the private school and owns it.

Example : The school's proprietor follows income and spending from their phone.

RCCM

The Trade and Personal Property Credit Register: its number proves that a company legally exists.

Example : A company's RCCM number appears on its contracts.

regional delegation

The regional or divisional office of a ministry: it oversees the schools in its area.

Example : The Adamawa regional delegation receives the start-of-year reports.

school map

The official list of levels and classes a school is allowed to open.

Example : The school map allows two Form 1 classes and one Form 2 class.

Sahel EDU

free trial

The first days of using Sahel EDU, without paying or committing. Afterwards, the price is negotiated with the school and confirmed in writing.

Example : A school tries Sahel EDU for 30 days, then agrees a price with the team.

module

A set of features that can be switched on for a school (canteen, payroll, Arabic stream…).

Example : The head asks for the "Payroll" module to be switched on.

offline

Working without internet: the register is kept on the phone and is sent by itself when the network returns.

Example : The network drops in class: the teacher takes the register anyway, and it is sent later.

QR Code

A square of small dots read with the phone camera. It opens a verification page.

Example : You scan the report card's QR Code to see whether it is genuine.

read-only

A mode where you can view and download everything but change nothing. It starts when the subscription is not renewed, before suspension.

Example : In read-only mode, the head can still download report cards but cannot enter marks.

Sahel Shield

Sahel EDU's verification mark. Scan a document's QR Code: the page shield.sahelavenir.com/v/… says whether it is genuine, revoked or forged.

Example : An employer scans a candidate's diploma and reads "Genuine" in one second.

two-step verification

On top of the password, a 6-digit code from the Google Authenticator app on your phone. Compulsory for the head, the deputy head and the bursar.

Example : The head types the password, then the 6-digit code from the phone.

Glossary: words explained