Following a decisive working session at the Marina Palace presided over by Romuald Wadagni, the leader of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Bénin (CSA-Bénin), Anselme Amoussou, shared his strong optimism regarding the commitments made by the government.
This critical meeting, which brought together major trade unions and representatives of the Aspiring Teachers (AME), yielded concrete decisions that secure essential professional guarantees long sought by the teaching community.
Expressing appreciation for the collaborative environment and the clear resolve demonstrated by government officials just before the start of the academic year, Anselme Amoussou emphasized the significance of these resolutions.
“The constructive atmosphere of our discussions and the approach demonstrated by the head of state convince us of a genuine political will to permanently resolve the challenges faced by the AME,” the union leader remarked.
Major breakthroughs secured for aspiring teachers
The dialogue produced several landmark advancements aimed at regularizing the status of these educators. Most notably, the initial requirement to undergo a new evaluation test has been entirely discarded. Instead, teachers who have completed three consecutive contracts will benefit from direct recruitment based on their classroom experience and proven qualifications.
Furthermore, these professionals will be integrated as public contract agents of decentralized local authorities (ACDPCTD). This specific status ensures smooth coordination between sector ministries and local municipalities, while significantly improving their eligibility for bank loans and other financial services.
On the social front, continuous registration with the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) is fully guaranteed to prevent any administrative gaps. Additionally, age limits have been aligned with public service standards—set at 35 years for categories C and D, and 40 years for categories A and B. This alignment ensures that these agents can complete the mandatory 15 years of contributions required to qualify for a retirement pension.
Lastly, the implementation schedule prioritizes the 2019 cohort, which represents over half of the total workforce, before gradually expanding the integration process to subsequent groups.
This landmark 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 Bénin.
