Benin education minister charts new course for primary schools
Armand Kuyema Natta, Benin’s Minister of Pre-Primary and Primary Education, launched an official tour on July 29, 2026 to connect with teams in the Ouémé and Plateau regions. This maiden visit since his appointment focuses on assessing sector challenges and aligning strategies to strengthen educational outcomes while introducing fresh ideas.
During the first leg of his tour, the minister, joined by Senior Advisor Paulin Gbenou, engaged with departmental directors, technical leads, central ministry officials, and heads of educational bodies under his purview. Discussions centered on operational hurdles, resource gaps, and key performance indicators across the sector.
Strengthening foundations while embracing innovation
In a statement that underscored collaboration, Kuyema Natta outlined his administration’s dual mandate: preserving past gains and spearheading transformative reforms. He urged teams to build on recent academic successes—including a notable uptick in Certificat d’études primaires (CEP) 2026 results—while fostering a culture of continuous improvement through data-driven monitoring and evaluation systems.
Emphasizing his role as a facilitator rather than a distant administrator, he called for open channels of communication with field-level stakeholders to ensure policies reflect ground realities. “Together, we will refine what works and pioneer what’s needed,” he asserted.
Confronting critical resource shortages
Local education leaders highlighted pressing concerns during the consultations. Top priorities included:
- Staffing gaps: Urgent need to recruit additional teachers to reduce classroom overcrowding and improve pupil-teacher ratios.
- Training and professional development: Strengthening pre-service and in-service training programs to elevate teaching standards.
- Digital infrastructure: Equipping central and technical directorates with modern computing tools to streamline administrative processes.
- Administrative relocation: Accelerating plans to relocate ministry services to the Cité administrative d’Ahossougbéta, as part of broader governance modernization efforts.
While acknowledging these constraints, Kuyema Natta reassured attendees that government is mobilizing resources to address them expeditiously. However, specific timelines and implementation frameworks remain under review.
Next steps: Expanding outreach to coastal regions
The minister’s itinerary continues today in the Atlantique and Littoral departments, where he will gather further insights from local educators and administrators. These sessions aim to map out tailored solutions that align with regional needs, ensuring no community is left behind in the pursuit of equitable, high-quality education for all.
This report will be updated following the conclusion of the minister’s second-day engagements.
