Codes and Frequencies
Description
EDUCML indicates the person's educational attainment in Mali in terms of the level of schooling completed.
Comparability — General
The variable is comparable across samples in terms of levels, but only the 1998 and 2009 samples specify the grade attended within level.
Mali has a 6-3-3 system. Primary school is intended to begin at age 7 and is divided into the following levels:
2. Second cycle of fundamental school, which comprises three years (7th to 9th) and leads to a Fundamental Studies Diploma (diplôme d'études fondamentales or DEF).
In 1998 and 2009, the variable distinguishes between fundamental school and Medersa. The Medersa is structured similarly to fundamental education, but it provides religious and non-religious instruction, combining education in Arabic and French.
Secondary education comprises three years (10th to 12th), which could be either general or technical, and it leads to a Baccalaureate (baccalauréat or BAC). The variable separately identifies general and technical tracks in 1998, while a single category for secondary was used in 2009 and classified in EDUCML as a general track.
In the 2009 sample, the second cycle for fundamental schools and Medersa includes a 6th year and secondary includes a 9th year. These responses were integrated in the 6th year of the first cycle and the 9th year of the second cycle, respectively.
The tertiary level includes vocational school, teacher's school, university, and post-university education. In 1998, the variable distinguishes vocational school according to the entry requirements, whether these are the Primary School Certificate (CEP), Fundamental Studies Diploma (DEF), or Baccalaureate (BAC). In 2009, responses indicating years 9 to 12 for teacher's school or vocational education are classified as unknown years at that level; for this sample, university and post-university studies are top-coded at 7 years or more.
Koranic schools are included as an education level in the 1998 and 2009 samples. These schools provide religious education based on the Koran. This category is coded under "other". Preschool education is only identified in 2009.
In addition to EDUCML, the 1998 and 2009 samples include a related source variable indicating the highest diploma obtained.
A harmonized international classification of educational attainment is available in EDATTAIN, which imposes a number of compromises to regularize the data across countries. Conversely, EDUCML retains the full detail on educational attainment for the Mali samples.
The number of years of schooling completed is available separately in YRSCHOOL.
Universe
- Mali 1987: Persons age 6+
- Mali 1998: Persons age 6+
- Mali 2009: Persons age 3+
Availability
- Mali: 1987, 1998, 2009
