National School of Administration and Magistracy (Cameroon)

The National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) in Cameroon, established in Yaoundé in 1959, is a prominent institution of higher education dedicated to training and developing senior officials for the Cameroonian government. As a public institution with legal personality and financial autonomy, it operates under the technical supervision of the Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reform.

History

The original name at its inception was the Cameroon School of Administration (ECA). Since Cameroon’s independence on May 1, 1960, this institution has been the primary training ground for administrators in the Cameroonian civil service. In 1961, the school introduced a special program to prepare candidates from under-educated regions for entrance exams to the regular cycles. Given that Cameroon has had two official national languages since independence and reunification, a preparatory program for the Cycle A and B entrance exams for English-speaking candidates was launched in 1963. A significant change occurred in 1964: the Cameroon School of Administration (ECA) was renamed the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM). The institution’s mission also evolved to include the training of civil and financial personnel for the state, as well as judicial magistrates. In 1985, ENAM became part of the National Center for Administration and Magistracy (CENAM), along with the Higher Institute of Public Management (ISMP) and the Institute of Administrative and Financial Techniques (ITAF). The year 1995 marked the reopening of Cycles A and B for training civil and financial service personnel and the establishment of the Research and Documentation Center for administrative issues. In 2010, admissions to the Judicial Division were opened to graduates in Computer Science and Economics. Since 2012, graduates in these fields have competed for admission to the Division of the Judiciary and Transplants.

ENAM

Teaching

Entrance Examinations

The decrees issued by the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reform establish uniform conditions for all candidates applying to ENAM. The number of available places is determined based on the demands of various administrations. All entrance exams are conducted exclusively in Yaoundé, with the same entry requirements for both internal and external competitions.

For the internal competition, only public servants aged 45 and above with a minimum of 5 years of professional experience can compete for Cycle B. They must also provide authorization from the Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reform.

For the external competition, candidates must possess a Baccalaureate or Advanced Level (A/L) certificate and be at least 32 years old at the time of the competition for Cycle B. For Cycle A, candidates need a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification, while a master’s degree in law is required for auditors of justice.

The examination period typically runs from April to June, with a unique fee of 15,000 FCFA. The training duration varies by cycle: two years for Cycle A and the clerk division, and one year for Cycle B.

Curriculum

ENAM offers a two-year continuing education program for its students, with the curriculum divided according to the various divisions:

Administrative Division:

Financial Regulatory Division:

Judicial Division:

Language and New Technologies Division of Information and Communication:

Opportunities

ENAM graduates are directly integrated into the civil service, becoming public servants. They are classified as A1 for those in Cycle B and A2 for those in Cycle A.