About two years ago Woord en Daad launched the INCE program in Benin under the name ”Local Partnership for Education” (PLE-Benin) in order to strengthen the local education system. Through its local coordination, the organization carried out preliminary work such as the identification of key players in the education sector, the strategic diagnostic analysis of the Beninese education sector and the establishment of a solid consortium to implement the intervention locally.
Working for quality and inclusive education
It is a consortium of six local organizations, with Woord en Daad as a technical and financial partner which officially launched the program on October 13, 2023, in Cotonou under the leadership of the Ministry of Maternal and Primary Education. The initial work of the consortium made it possible to define its strategic and fundamental priority: Working for quality and inclusive education. Thanks to the commitment of local organizations, the energy of the consortium members and the technical and financial support of Woord en Daad, operational interventions at national level have successfully started and are progressing well.
Key activities
Revision and validation of the training manual
In terms of key activities, the consortium first started with the revision and validation of the training manual for educational and pedagogical practices in school inclusion. This manual revision work was carried out by the consortium under the lead of the National Institute for Training and Research in Education. The premises of the Ministry of Maternal and Primary Education hosted the validation workshop of the revised manual on October 5, 2023.
Conference on inclusive education
Then, through its scientific arm which is the Protestant University of West Africa (UPAO), the PLE organized an international scientific conference from November 21 to 23, 2023 on the theme: inclusive education for a more inclusive society in Africa and Benin. All seven PLE organizations were represented as well as a wide range of academics and local organizations involved in educational inclusion. 22 presentations were made by international contributors (Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Congo, Cameroon, etc.) on key themes linked to the complexity of the issue of inclusion.
Media coverage
The communications aspect of the program is also evolving. CIPCRE, mainly focused on media coverage, organized several radio and television broadcasts related to the consortium and its activities. This led to several radio broadcasts being initiated as well as a broadcast on the National Television of Benin.
Implementation workshop
The main prospect for the members of the consortium is to gradually bring about the systemic changes envisaged by:
- Raising awareness and changing attitude in favour of inclusive education at community level
- Training teachers to strengthen their capacities, focussing on knowledge, skills and values
- Monitoring the political and legislative framework with advocacy initiative at community level and national level to encourage the change necessary for the impacts and transformations envisaged in the Beninese education system.
In view of these important challenges, the members of the PLE consortium met in March 2024 in a workshop to harmonize the implementation of their actions, and reiterated their commitment and determination to work in synergy.