Anselme Amoussou commends state leadership as major progress is secured for contract teachers in Bénin

A decisive working session convened at the Palais de la Marina, centered around Romuald Wadagni, has sparked strong optimism from Anselme Amoussou, the General Secretary of the Autonomous Trade Unions Confederation of Bénin (CSA-Bénin), regarding the government’s latest commitments.

This crucial meeting, which brought together union leaders and representatives of the Aspirants to the Teaching Profession (AME), concluded with concrete resolutions. These decisions seal significant professional guarantees for the educators after years of persistent advocacy.

Praising the collaborative atmosphere and the clear determination demonstrated by the authorities just ahead of the new school year, Anselme Amoussou highlighted the importance of these newly brokered agreements.

“The constructive spirit of our discussions and the attitude of the Head of State reassure us of a genuine political will to thoroughly resolve the challenges faced by contract teachers,” the union leader stated.

Key advancements secured for contract teachers

The negotiations have yielded several critical breakthroughs to stabilize the professional status of these instructors. First, the previously required evaluation exam has been permanently scrapped. Instead, teachers who have completed three consecutive contracts will be recruited directly based on their verified classroom experience and qualifications.

Furthermore, these educators will join the public administration under the status of local government contract agents (ACDPCTD). This specific framework ensures a smooth coordination between sector ministries and local municipalities, while significantly easing their access to bank loans and other financial services.

On the social security front, continuous affiliation with the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) is fully guaranteed, avoiding any administrative gaps. Additionally, the alignment of age limits with standard public service rules—set at 35 years for categories C and D, and 40 years for categories A and B—ensures that these agents can complete the 15 years of contributions required to qualify for a retirement pension.

Finally, the implementation timeline prioritizes the 2019 cohort, which represents more than half of the total workforce, before gradually expanding the integration process to subsequent groups.

This social consensus marks the beginning of a gradual transition out of job insecurity for thousands of educators, paving the way for a peaceful and stable academic year across Bénin.