COTONOU, Benin
Benin’s government has announced that public general and technical secondary education will be free for all girls nationwide beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, a landmark policy aimed at expanding access to education and promoting gender equality.
The decision was approved during the Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday and forms part of a broader package of social measures unveiled by the new administration.
According to the government’s official communiqué, the tuition waiver will apply to girls enrolled in public secondary schools nationwide.
President Romuald Wadagni highlighted the significance of the measure in a Facebook post on Thursday, describing it as more than just a government policy.
“What if our girls’ talents never again had to stop at the school gates?” the president wrote. “This is more than a measure. It is a promise made to thousands of young girls, the promise that they can continue their studies, believe in their dreams and build their future without financial difficulties standing in their way.”
Wadagni linked girls’ education to national development, saying that “when a girl stays in school, a family moves forward. When thousands of girls stay in school, an entire country progresses.”
The free education initiative is expected to reduce the financial burden on families and encourage higher enrollment and retention rates among girls, particularly in rural and low-income communities.
The government also announced complementary investments in the education sector, including a CFA20 billion ($34 million) allocation to expand access to drinking water and electricity in public educational institutions lacking those services.
The education reform is among the flagship social policies introduced by the new government and reflects its commitment to strengthening human capital development as part of Benin’s long-term growth strategy.
The measure will take effect when schools reopen for the 2026-2027 academic year, according to the communiqué.
