The government of Benin has installed a technical committee to oversee the recruitment of Aspirants au métier d’enseignant (AME). This development follows the validation of conditions and modalities for the recruitment of AME by President Romuald Wadagni. The committee, installed by Minister Delegate for Budget and Public Service, Rodrigue Chaou, on September 18, 2026, will update, qualify, and validate the database of AME. The committee's installation is in line with a decree issued on September 17, 2026.
The technical committee comprises key stakeholders, including the National Employment Agency (AnpE), National Identification Agency (ANIP), and Directors of Planning, Administration, and Finance (DPAF) from education ministries. Other members include competent structures from the Ministry of Economy and Finance. This inter-ministerial committee has been given a tight deadline to produce its report. Minister Chaou urged members to be diligent, listen to stakeholders, and work with rigor.
President Wadagni had previously met with social partners on September 11, 2026, to validate modalities for the transfer and redeployment of AME. According to a union source, the President approved the redeployment of AME to Agents contractuels de droit public des collectivités territoriales. This new status offers teachers the same career prospects as Agents contractuels de droit public and State officials. However, redeployment is subject to specific criteria, including a minimum of three consecutive contracts as AME.
The redeployment process will start with the 2019 promotion, prioritizing the oldest profiles in this cohort. Age limits have been set at 35 years for categories C and D and 40 years for categories A and B. Redeployed teachers will be directly affiliated with the National Social Security Fund (CNSS). Consequently, their retirement age will increase from 55 or 58 years to 60 years.
The new committee's primary task is to ensure a transparent and efficient recruitment process. This involves verifying the qualifications and diplomas of AME candidates. The committee's work will help establish a reliable database of eligible candidates. This move aims to professionalize the teaching sector in Benin.
The installation of the technical committee and the validation of redeployment modalities reflect the government's efforts to reform the education sector. These developments are expected to improve the working conditions and career prospects of AME. The government's commitment to implementing these changes will be closely watched by stakeholders.
The changes to the AME recruitment and redeployment process are expected to have a positive impact on the education sector in Benin. With a more transparent and efficient system in place, the government hopes to attract and retain qualified teachers. The success of these reforms will depend on effective implementation and ongoing support from stakeholders.
Key points
- A technical committee has been installed in Benin to oversee the recruitment of Aspirants au métier d’enseignant (AME).
- The committee will update, qualify, and validate the database of AME to ensure a transparent and efficient recruitment process.
- Redeployed teachers will be directly affiliated with the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), and their retirement age will increase to 60 years.
