In 2021, the Benin government, under President Patrice Talon, initiated a reform in agricultural technical education. As part of this reform, 662 teachers were recruited through a competitive exam organized by the public administration. These recruits began their training in 2022 at the National University of Agriculture (UNA) in Kétou, with support from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The training aimed to equip them with the skills needed to implement the new reform in technical high schools and agricultural vocational schools.
The recruited teachers, who had put their other activities on hold to pursue their training, have now completed their studies. Those with a bachelor's degree obtained a certified teacher diploma, while others became associate professors. However, despite finishing their training, these teachers have not been deployed to their assigned posts. Patrice Bossé, president of the collective of concerned teachers, expressed frustration about the situation, stating that they have completed their training but have not been deployed to the field.
The delay in deployment has left the teachers in a difficult situation, with many struggling to make ends meet. Some have taken up small jobs, such as offering animal care services, while others engage in activities unrelated to their field of expertise. Several of their colleagues have even resorted to working as taxi motorcycle drivers, commonly known as "zémidjan." The teachers had received a monthly stipend of 100,000 FCFA during their training, but this support ceased once they completed their studies.
The collective of teachers, led by Patrice Bossé, has made several attempts to get updates on their deployment but claims to have received no concrete response. They are concerned about the impact of this delay on their families and professional futures. The situation is becoming increasingly difficult for these professionals, who had been recruited to address a specific need in the education sector.
In response to the concerns raised, the government's spokesperson, Wilfried Houngbédji, addressed the issue during a TikTok live session on October 15, 2026. He acknowledged the delays in opening agricultural technical high schools and vocational schools but assured that the government had not forgotten about the recruited and trained teachers. Houngbédji called for patience, promising that their deployment was only a matter of time.
According to Houngbédji, the teachers will soon be informed about their deployment locations. The government's assurance offers some hope to the teachers, who have been waiting for over a year to start their careers. The deployment of these teachers is crucial to the implementation of the agricultural technical education reform, which aims to improve the quality of education in Benin's technical and vocational schools.
The delay in deploying the teachers has raised concerns about the government's commitment to the education sector. The situation highlights the challenges faced by the government in implementing its reforms and the impact on the lives of those recruited to support these initiatives. As the teachers await their deployment, they hope that the government's promises will be fulfilled, and they will be able to contribute to the development of Benin's agricultural technical education system.
Key points
- The Benin government recruited 662 teachers in 2021 for agricultural technical education but has yet to deploy them.
- The teachers completed their training in 2022 but have been waiting over a year for deployment.
- The government's spokesperson has promised that the teachers' deployment will occur soon.
