• Benin approves $509M plan for inclusive education reform
• Targets out-of-school youth with flexible, bilingual learning model
• Aims to cut dropout rates, meet regional and SDG commitments

The government of Benin approved a plan on Wednesday, September 17, to expand access to education and promote school inclusion. The initiative targets children aged 9 to 14 who have been excluded from the formal system. It introduces a flexible model that combines schooling with vocational training and instruction in French and national languages. The project's goal is to ensure all participants can reach the final year of secondary school, a break from a rigid, pyramid-shaped system that has led to high dropout and exclusion rates. The total budget is estimated at 283.8 billion CFA francs, or about $509 million.

The plan also includes extending the duration of basic education to 15 years and creating adapted infrastructure for out-of-school children. According to a government statement, implementing the plan will require a new educational system framework, stronger partnerships between the state and local governments, and support from technical and financial partners.

Since 2016, Benin has implemented alternative education programs to provide access to learning for all students outside the formal system. The new strategy continues these efforts with the aim of diversifying educational offerings and promoting inclusion. This orientation addresses a persistent issue: in 2024, nearly two million Beninese children aged 3 to 17 were still out of school, according to Educ'Action, a media outlet specializing in educational issues.

Challenges in education are comparable across West Africa. UNICEF recently warned that cuts in international aid could impede educational access, widening inequalities between urban and rural areas. Benin's initiative is part of a broader effort to meet its Sustainable Development Goal commitments, which include ensuring quality education and reducing disparities in access.

The initiative comes as several African nations are strengthening their systems for inclusive education. In May 2025, Côte d’Ivoire announced the opening of 30 "bridge classes" in the regions of Abidjan, Bouaké, Man, and Bondoukou, with the goal of reintegrating 900 children who were not in the formal school system. In Ghana, programs like accelerated and complementary basic education are aimed at reintegrating out-of-school children into the educational system, particularly in the Greater Accra and Kumasi regions. Benin's plan is part of this regional dynamic.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou