From April 11 through 15, 2011, USAID/Benin joined other education donors and Benin Ministries of education on a country-wide review of activities funded by the World Bank’s Education for All Fast Track Initiative (FTI) that started in Benin in 2008. The visit concluded with recommendations to improve the quality of Benin’s primary, secondary, and technical education. Donors stressed the urgency to implement a strategy for using the more than 57 percent balance of FTI funds, approximately $54 million, available to Benin before the initiative ends on December 31, 2011.

In Parakou, the delegation reviewed USAID funded Community Teacher Professional Training project, which prepares active but unlicensed community teachers to pass the national primary school teaching certificate. “We are ready; we are confident that we have learned all we need to take the exam” said the teachers in training.

Likewise, school directors showed satisfaction with the impact the training is having on teachers’ performance in the classroom. “Teachers understand the curriculum much better and are more competent in their teaching practice,” said the Principals. The delegation also met with Alan Miller, director of USAID’s Girls Education and Community Participation project, to congratulate him for having introduced the innovating practice of multi-grade classroom.

In conclusion, Ministries of education committed to transferring more funds locally so that schools can acquire needed teaching materials and improve teachers’ inspection. Benin authorities also agreed to extend the multi-grade classroom model to other rural schools of northern Benin to compensate for the lack of qualified teachers.

Regarding the use of FTI funds, the Government of Benin will try and complete projects that are underway by December 31, and will request an extension from the World Bank to continue the FTI beyond 2011. Their recommendations will be valuable for planning future programs.

By Pierre Achade, USAID/Benin