Union leader praises political will to integrate contract teachers in Benin

A crucial working session at the Palais de la Marina, chaired by Romuald Wadagni, has yielded significant progress for contract teachers. Following the discussions, Anselme Amoussou, who leads the Confédération des syndicats autonomes du Bénin (CSA-Bénin), shared his deep optimism about the concrete commitments made by the government.

This high-level meeting, which included major trade unions and representatives of the Aspirants au Métier d’Enseignant (AME), resulted in critical decisions. After years of advocacy, these educators have finally secured vital professional guarantees.

Welcoming the open dialogue and the strong determination shown by the authorities just before the start of the new school year, Anselme Amoussou emphasized the historic weight of these decisions.

“The constructive atmosphere of our discussions and the approach taken by the head of state convince us that there is a genuine political will to finally resolve the plight of these teachers,” the union leader stated.

Key advancements secured for Benin contract teachers

The negotiations successfully finalized several crucial breakthroughs to regularize the status of these instructors. Crucially, the requirement to undergo a new evaluation test has been completely discarded. Instead, direct recruitment based on credentials, classroom experience, and professional qualifications will apply to those who have completed three consecutive contracts.

Furthermore, the selected teachers will join the public service under the status of Agent contractuel de droit public des collectivités territoriales décentralisées (ACDPCTD). This specific framework ensures smooth joint management between sector ministries and local municipalities, while significantly facilitating access to bank loans and other financial services.

From a social standpoint, their continuous registration with the Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale (CNSS) is fully guaranteed, avoiding any administrative gaps. Additionally, aligning their age limits with standard public service regulations—35 years for categories C and D, and 40 years for categories A and B—ensures that these agents can complete the mandatory 15 years of social security contributions required to qualify for a retirement pension.

Lastly, the transition timeline prioritizes the 2019 cohort, which accounts for more than half of the total workforce, before gradually extending the integration process to subsequent groups.

This social consensus marks the beginning of the end of job insecurity for thousands of educators, paving the way for a peaceful and stable school year across the entire country.