Before independence in Oubangui-Chari (later to be called the Central African Republic), most students going on to higher education headed for universities in France.

The University of Bangui expanded the focus of study on agriculture to include scientific research, law, economics, rural development and liberal arts.

At the beginning of the 2000–01 academic year, the higher education sector consisted of only two public institutions, the University of Bangui and the National School of Administration and Judiciary (ENAM), and one private school, the International Preparatory College (College Preparatoire International, CPI).

Enrollment figures indicate that the number of students preparing for the mathematics and physical sciences baccalaureate degrees have significantly increased.

Young women are facing strong pressures in the society to leave school and take up their traditional role of housekeepers.