Following a decisive working session at the Palais de la Marina led by Romuald Wadagni, Anselme Amoussou, the Secretary General of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bénin (CSA-Bénin), shared his positive outlook regarding the commitments made by the executive branch. This crucial meeting, which included labor unions and representatives of the aspiring teachers (AME), resulted in concrete decisions that secure major professional guarantees for the teaching community after years of advocacy.
Expressing satisfaction with the constructive dialogue and the strong political commitment demonstrated by the authorities ahead of the upcoming school year, Anselme Amoussou highlighted the significance of these agreements. He noted that the constructive atmosphere of the discussions and the approach taken by the Head of State indicate a genuine political determination to permanently resolve the challenges faced by these educators.
Major breakthroughs achieved for aspiring teachers
The consultations successfully finalized several key advancements to regularize the status of these teachers. First, the initial requirement to undergo a new evaluation test has been permanently scrapped. Instead, direct recruitment based on qualifications and demonstrated classroom experience will apply, provided the candidates have completed three consecutive contracts.
Furthermore, the selected educators will join the public administration under the status of Contractual Public Agents of decentralized local authorities (ACDPCTD). This specific framework ensures efficient coordination between sector ministries and local municipalities while significantly easing access to bank loans and other financial services for the staff.
On the social security front, continuous registration with the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) is fully guaranteed to prevent any administrative gaps. Additionally, aligning the age limits with standard public service regulations—capped at 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 contributions required to qualify for a retirement pension.
Finally, the established timeline prioritizes the processing of the 2019 cohort, which represents over half of the total eligible workforce, before gradually expanding the regularisation process to subsequent groups.
This social consensus marks the beginning of a gradual transition away from job insecurity for thousands of educators, laying the groundwork for a peaceful and stable school year across Bénin. This development is a notable highlight in West Africa news and reflects positive shifts in African politics.
