You will find below a list of the most popular international and bilingual schools for expats in Togo with fee information. The list includes nursery schools, primary and secondary (high) schools for you to find the right school to prepare for the International Baccalaureate and other accreditation in Togo. Some schools may follow the American or British curriculums with English speaking programs while others are regulated under the French language and system.

Education in Togo

Primary Schooling is compulsory and free in Togo. Due to its history as the French colony of Togoland, education in Togo follows a similar model as in France in all its stages.

Starting at age six, primary education is mandatory for 6 years. Prior to 2008, public school fees created barriers for impoverished families to send their children to school. In 2008, UNICEF partnered with Togo's government to abolish public primary school fees. Togo's net primary school enrolment was 90% in 2017. Schools are state-owned, Christian or Islamic, yet 10% of children are still deprived of a basic education.

Secondary education enrolment rates are low. The secondary education follows the primary level and is offered for 12-year old children and consists of two cycles of four years for the first, and three years for the second cycle for a total of seven years.Facilities are sparse in far-flung rural places but generous in the Capital City of Lomé, where the better private schools are found. The curriculum is similar to that used in France today.

In 2017, only 4% of the children eligible enrolled in secondary education. This is an improvement from 2000 when only 23.53% of children enrolled in secondary schooling; however, the large enrolment gap between primary and secondary education remains due to costly secondary education fees, poor quality of primary education and the lack of access to schooling in rural areas.

There is a gender disparity in Togo schooling. In every level of schooling except pre-primary, there are 10% fewer girls enrolled than boys. Early or forced marriages force many girls to leave school. International NGO's such as Girls Not Brides are working in Togo to meet its commitment to end child, early and forced marriages by 2030.

*The data and surveys provided above where published in 2019.

International Schools

International schools can be the perfect solution for an expat student (multinational corporation executives, children of diplomats, NGO staff) in Togo. Many schools provide similar standards of schooling around the globe, providing for an easy transition between schools whether they are in France or Vietnam. There may be some local population, but the schools are usually geared for an international student body. Schools may follow a curriculum model from the US, UK, France, etc. Primary instruction may be any language (and multiple languages are usually taught), but it is usually in English, French, Spanish, German, or Japanese. Schools also provide internationally accepted accreditation such as the international baccalaureate.

Admission and enrolment procedures vary from school to school. Space is often limited and preference may be given to students based on nationality. Tuition tends to be expensive based on local standards, but offers high standards of learning, boast smaller class sizes, first-rate facilities, and extracurricular. Boarding facilities are available at some schools, but most only provide day classes.

Accreditation & Membership

• The CoIS (Council of International Schools) is a non-profit association of international schools and post-secondary institutions which provides educational accreditation, teacher and leadership recruitment services, links to higher education, governance assistance and help with founding new schools.
• European Council of International Schools (ECIS) is a collaborative network promoting the ideals and best practice of international education, complemented by grants and awards.
• Council of British International Schools (COBIS) is a responsive organisation that serves, supports and represents its member schools.
• New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC) is a regional accrediting association which establishes standards for all levels of education, from pre-K to doctoral.
• Agency for French Education Abroad (Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger, AEFE) is a national public agency under the administration of the French government that assures the quality of schools teaching the French national curriculum outside France.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) represents over 1100 independent schools and associations in the United States and abroad.

International schools in Lomé

American International School of Lomé (AISL)
Boulevard du Haho (3 HDN)
Lomé, Togo
Tel: +228 22 61 18 96
E-mail : contact@aislome.org
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

The American International School of Lomé (AISL), established in 1967, is a private, non-profit, college preparatory day school offering an educational program to students of all nationalities from Nursery (age 2) through Grade 12. AISL continues to offer an American style curriculum, and the school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA).  AISL goes through a reaccreditation process every six years. AISL was most recently reaccredited in December  2016, and its accreditation status is valid until  December 2023.

British school of Lomé
Résidence Du Bénin
20050 Lomé, Togo
Tel: +228 2226 4606
Email: admissions@bsl.tg
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

BSL follows the guidelines of the Cambridge UK curriculum. At Key Stage 4 (15-16 years of age) students study the Cambridge IGCSE syllabuses, which are especially created for international students. IGCSE stands for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education. It is a two-year programme leading to externally set, marked and certificated examinations from the University of Cambridge. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme curriculum is delivered for Key Stage 5 students aged 16-19. The IB Diploma Program aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge, students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.

French Schools in Lomé

Ecole Internationale Arc en Ciel / Arc en Ciel International School
Rue Défalé,
Lomé, Togo
Tel: +228 22 22 03 29
Email: secretariat@arc-en-ciel.org
Tuition Rates: From 1,725,000 CFA ($2980) to 4,050,000 CFA ($7000) depending if the course enrolled is in English or French and its level.

Arc-en-Ciel International School is a private school in Lomé offering quality education in French and English from Kindergarten to High School as well as boarding facilities. It is an accredited IB (International Baccalaureate) World School authorised to deliver the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) in French and English. The school is a Candidate school for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) at primary and kindergarden levels.

École Charles de Gaulle Lomé
Avenue Sarakawa
Lomé, Togo
Tel: +228 22 20 79 89
Email: secretariat.primaire@lfl-togo.org
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Charles de Gaulle primary school is part of the Lycée Français de Lomé (see below), an establishment under agreement with the AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad, a national public agency under the administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France). Schooling is divided into 3 cycles: cycle 1 (nursery school), cycle 2 and cycle 3 (elementary school). After school, families can register their children for extra-curricular activities. Around thirty sports, artistic and cultural clubs, in French or in English, are offered to kindergarten and elementary students. They are managed by the Sports and Socio-Cultural Association (ASSC). The school hosts more than 400 students in 17 classes from 2 years old to CM2 (French Year 6).

Lycée français de Lomé (LFL)
Avenue Franz Joseph Strauss
BP 3544 Lomé, Togo
Tel: +228 22 23 57 50
Email: assist-direction.lome.lfl@aefe.fr
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

The school is part of the AEFE network and approved by the French Ministry of National Education. The Lycée de Lomé applies fully programmes, timetables and official instructions of the Ministry. It is similar to any other French college or high school on the AEFE network in the world. The primary section is managed by Ecole Charles de Gaulle (above). Then it follows 4 years in College section and 3 years in Lycée, which ends with the baccalaureate. Hours of individualized help are added to students' schedules in French and Mathematics so that students in difficulty can review the points of the programme not acquired.