A crucial working session at the Palais de la Marina, centered around Romuald Wadagni, has generated strong optimism among labor representatives. Anselme Amoussou, the Secretary General of the Confederation of Independent Unions of Benin (CSA-Bénin), expressed confidence in the firm commitments made by the executive branch to address the long-standing demands of contract teachers.

This extensive meeting, which brought together major trade unions and representatives of the Aspirants to the Teaching Profession (AME), culminated in concrete decisions. These resolutions establish significant professional guarantees for the teaching community after years of advocacy.

Amoussou praised the constructive dialogue and the genuine political will demonstrated by the authorities just ahead of the new school year. He noted that the cooperative atmosphere and the approach taken during the discussions signal a sincere determination to resolve the challenges faced by these contract educators once and for all.

Major breakthroughs achieved for contract teachers

The negotiations successfully secured several critical advancements for the integration of these teachers. Most notably, the requirement for a new evaluation exam has been discarded. Instead, direct recruitment will proceed based on credentials and classroom experience, applicable to those who have completed three consecutive contracts.

Under the new framework, the selected educators will join the public administration as contract agents of local authorities (ACDPCTD). This administrative structure ensures balanced oversight between national ministries and local municipalities, while also facilitating easier access to bank loans and other financial services for the staff.

On the social front, continuous registration with the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) is fully guaranteed, preventing any administrative gaps. Furthermore, age limits have been aligned with standard public service rules—set at 35 years for categories C and D, and 40 years for categories A and B. This alignment ensures that teachers can complete the 15 years of pension contributions required to secure their retirement benefits.

In terms of execution, the government will prioritize the 2019 cohort, which represents more than half of the total eligible workforce, before gradually rolling out the integration process to subsequent groups.

This landmark consensus marks a decisive step toward ending professional instability for thousands of educators, establishing a stable and peaceful environment for the upcoming academic year across Benin.