The National school of France of overseas (ENFOM) was a French school forming the executives of the colonial administration (administrators, factory inspectors and magistrates). The school was located at 2, avenue de l'Observatoire with Paris.

It is founded, by IIIéme République, colonial École in 1889, to succeed a center of training course in activity since 1885 under the name of Kampuchean École. The civil servant-trainees are divided into two sections: French and foreigners. Their studies lasted 2 or 3 years for the varying benefit of promotions from 11 to 50 pupils and overseas included/understood lesson of languages of the countries, ethnology, common law, public and private colonial right. It becomes in 1934 the National school of France of overseas but preserves its familiar name “Colo”.

The Outline law of the June 23rd 1956 having posed the principle of the Africanization of the executives of the administration of overseas, three last promotions (1956, 1957 and 1958) counted as many Africans, and Madagascans subways.

In 1959, the ENFOM becomes the Institute of the high studies of overseas (IHEOM) intended to form the executives of the States of Africa and Madagascar members of the Community. Finally, the IHEOM yielded the place to the International institute of public administration (IIAP) in 1966. The IIAP was finally gathered with the National school of administration in 2002.

Directors

• Etienne Aymonier: 1889-1926
• Georges Hardy: 1926-1933
• Robert Delavignette: 1934-1946
• Paul Driven
• François Luchaire: 1959-1964
• Jean Baillou: 1965 -
• Henri Roson
• Jean-Pierre Puissochet
• Frank Michel
• Didier Maus