The newly appointed Beninese Minister of Pre-Primary and Primary Education, Armand Kuyema Natta, embarked on his first official tour across Ouémé and Plateau departments on July 29, 2026. This introductory mission aims to foster direct dialogue with education sector leaders while laying the groundwork for his strategic priorities—strengthening achievements and driving innovation.

Direct engagement with education leaders

During the tour, Armand Kuyema Natta met with departmental directors, heads of technical and central divisions, and leaders of institutions under his ministry’s supervision. Discussions focused on service efficiency and identifying the most pressing challenges faced by early childhood and primary education stakeholders.

The minister outlined his vision around two core objectives: consolidating past progress and introducing forward-looking reforms. He urged teams to maintain momentum on recent gains while exploring new initiatives to elevate the quality of education nationwide. Positioning himself as a collaborative leader, he emphasized the need for ongoing communication with field-level decision-makers.

Celebrating academic milestones

The minister highlighted the strong performances in the 2026 Certificat d’études primaires (CEP), alongside progress in curriculum implementation and assessment mechanisms. He stressed that sustained high success rates should motivate continued efforts and reinforce existing support systems at every level.

Addressing critical infrastructure gaps

Education officials raised urgent concerns, including the need to recruit additional teachers, enhance initial and ongoing professional development, and provide essential IT equipment for central and technical departments. The relocation of services to the Cité administrative d’Ahossougbéta was also discussed, with the minister confirming government commitment to expediting this transition without detailing specific timelines or operational specifics.

Next steps in the ministerial outreach

The tour is scheduled to continue on July 30, 2026, with visits to the Atlantique and Littoral departments. These engagements will enable the minister to deepen his understanding of local challenges and gather firsthand feedback on operational conditions within the sector.