The certificat d'études primaires (CEP) was a

diploma A diploma is a document awarded by an educational institution (such as a college or university) testifying the recipient has graduated by successfully completing their courses of studies. Historically, it has also referred to a charter or offici ...

awarded at the end of elementary

primary education Primary education or elementary education is typically the first stage of formal education, coming after preschool/ kindergarten and before secondary school. Primary education takes place in '' primary schools'', ''elementary schools'', or ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

(from 11 to 13 years inclusive until 1936) and certifying that the student had acquired basic skills in writing, reading, mathematics, history, geography and applied sciences. It was officially discontinued in 1989. The official name of the CEP was "Certificat d'études primaires élémentaires" (CEPE); it was colloquially known as the "certificat d'études" or "certif'".

History

The certificat d'études primaires was created by a

circulaire In France, Italy, Belgium, and some other civil law countries, a circulaire (French), circolare (Italian) or omzendbrief ( Dutch) consists of a text intended for the members of a service, of an enterprise, or of an administration. Within the Fr ...

on August 20, 1866, under the influence of

Victor Duruy Jean Victor Duruy (10 September 1811 – 25 November 1894) was a French historian and statesman. Life Duruy was born in Paris, the son of a factory worker, and at first intended for his father's trade. Having passed brilliantly through the Éc ...

. On 1882, it was instituted by the Loi Jules Ferry on March 28, 1882, which also established mandatory primary education for children from 6 to 13 years old.

History

See also