Proposed 2027 school calendar and uniform cost concerns

A proposed school calendar for 2027 outlines 174 days of instruction divided into three trimesters. Under this plan, students in Grades 1 and 7 would begin on January 11, with all other students starting classes the following day. The first trimester would run from January 12 to April 2, followed by a two-week break. The second trimester is scheduled from April 19 to July 16, followed by a four-week vacation. The third trimester would span from August 16 to October 28. These dates remain provisional and await approval from the Council of Ministers.

In N’Djamena, parents are raising concerns regarding private schools that mandate the purchase of school uniforms and supplies directly from the institutions. Parents report being forced to buy these items at significantly higher prices than market rates, with some schools conditioning classroom access on these purchases. Critics argue that education should not be used as a commercial enterprise to generate additional profit through the sale of branded clothing and equipment.