Primary and secondary: how is the transition from private to public?

Verified 10 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The steps to take to move from a private school to a public school depend on the type of private school where your child is enrolled (under contract or off contract):

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Private institution under contract

The registration procedures are different in primary, middle and high school:

Primary enrollment

You must first contact your town hall. She will give you the list of documents to present to her. It will also tell you about the school your child is enrolling in.

Who shall I contact

You must then register your child for the school secretariat on which you depend.

In particular, you will have to provide the decision of the teachers' council of the school where he was enrolled. It specifies its passage in higher class or its repetition.

Enrollment in the college

You must register your child at secretariat of the college in your sector, according to the school card of your department of residence.

This includes providing the decision of the teacher's council or the class council of the institution where your child was enrolled. It specifies its passage in higher class or its repetition.

Who shall I contact

To learn more about the registration procedure, you can contact the Dasen: titleContent.

High school enrollment

You must register your child at secretariat of the high school in your area, according to the school card of your department of residence.

You will need to provide the decision of the class council of the college or high school where your child was enrolled. It specifies its passage in higher class or its repetition.

Who shall I contact

To learn more about the registration procedure, you can contact the Dasen: titleContent.

Private institution not under contract

You must contact the directorate of departmental services of national education of your place of residence.

Who shall I contact

If your child goes to college or high school, he must pass a admission examination on table to be able to register in the chosen public institution.

The admission exam covers the main disciplines taught both in the classroom attended and in the one where your child wishes to continue his studies. The program is defined by the Dasen: titleContent.

The head of the institution where your child wishes to enroll organizes the admission exam and chairs the jury.

In case of success, the decision of affection is taken by the Dasen.

Please note

An admission exam may be organized outside the usual periods when your application is motivated by particular reasons. For example, a family event or a move.

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