A crucial working session at the Palais de la Marina, led by Romuald Wadagni, has concluded with significant professional guarantees for contract teachers. Anselme Amoussou, the Secretary General of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bénin (CSA-Bénin), expressed strong optimism regarding the commitments made by the executive branch.
This extended meeting, which brought together trade unions and representatives of the Aspirants to the Teaching Profession (AME), resulted in concrete decisions that address long-standing professional demands.
Welcoming the constructive dialogue and the determination shown by the authorities just before the start of the school year, Anselme Amoussou highlighted the significance of these agreements.
“The constructive atmosphere of our discussions and the attitude of the authorities give us the confidence that there is a genuine political will to permanently resolve the situation of these teachers,” the union leader stated.
Major achievements secured for contract teachers
The negotiations successfully secured several critical advancements to regularize the status of these educators. First, the requirement to undergo a new evaluation exam has been completely discarded. Instead, direct recruitment will be based on credentials, classroom experience, and verified qualifications, provided the teachers have completed three consecutive contracts.
Furthermore, these educators will join the public administration under the status of local government contract agents (ACDPCTD). This framework establishes a balanced supervision between sector ministries and local municipalities, while significantly easing their access to bank loans and other financial services.
On the social front, their continuous enrollment in the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) is fully guaranteed, ensuring no administrative interruptions. The age limits have also been aligned with public service standards—set at 35 years for categories C and D, and 40 years for categories A and B—allowing these agents to complete the 15 years of contributions required to qualify for a retirement pension.
Finally, the implementation timeline prioritizes the 2019 cohort, which accounts for more than half of the total workforce, before gradually expanding the integration process to subsequent groups.
This social consensus marks the beginning of a transition out of job insecurity for thousands of educators, laying the groundwork for a peaceful and stable school year across the entire country.