Fundamental education (enseignement fondamental) consists of pre-school and primary school. It is obligatory from the age of 4 onwards and is composed of 4 cycles instead of school years:
1st cycle: children aged 3-5 (at the beginning of the year)
2nd cycle: ages 6-7
3rd cycle: ages 8-9
4th cycle: ages 10-11
This system was introduced in the law of 21 January 2009.