Culture Report, May 1994

Tod K. Vogt

Formal Education

History

Prior to independence in 1960, the colonial French government controlled the educational system. With independence, Dahomey viewed education as the foundation on which they would build the future. Hence, from 1960 through 1972 there was "good evolution" in the educational system. Once the socialist regime came to power in 1972, they multiplied schools hoping to disseminate socialist ideology. This multiplication continued at a steady pace until 1978. In 1978 the government created an abundance of schools, many of them in the out-lying reached of Benin. Though the multiplication of schools solved the problem of having too many students for the number of facilities, it did not solve the problem of too few qualified teachers.

In the mid-1980's the government paid UNB (Universit‚ Nationale du B‚nin) students 15,000 cfa/year (about $50) to attend the University. In early 1985 the government stopped making the regular payments and on March 6, the university students and professors went on strike, seeking to pressure the government into paying the fees. Eventually, all schools in Benin joined the strike and the government closed the schools for 6 months. The government used the military to close and guard the schools. No one was allowed to enter the schools. Apparently, a teacher at the central public school in Bohicon was shot to death by a soldier for trying to enter the school to study. In response to the public pressure, the government reduced the school fees to almost nothing except the students were expected to supply their own uniforms (khakis).

As the economy deteriorated, the government could not pay government workers. During the school year 1987-1988 government workers got paid once in 4 months.

During this same time, the Freedom of Speech was repudiate. UNB and secondary school students who spoke-out against the government were abducted, killed and thrown into the sea. The government claimed that they had disappeared.

In April 1989 a nation-wide general strike by government workers and teachers crippled the government. Because of the disruption during the 1988-1989 school year, the government refused to accept the year as valid and it did not count. It was declared "white" or "blank". Classes resumed November 22, 1989 but only lasted until December 8 at which time another strike was called. The National Conference of Active Forces was held in February 1990. The school system waited in limbo for the results of the conference. March 3, 1990 the schools resumed and have been functioning regularly since.

Because of the weakening of Benin's economy and the resulting difficulty which people had paying the school fees, President Sogolo exempt the daughters of farmers from paying school fees for the 1993-1994 school year with the hopes of encouraging their parents to send them to school.

Structure

The official, sequential structure of the educational system of Benin

YEAR SCHOOL/YEAR/CYCLE/LEVEL OPTIONS UNIFORM TEST OR DIPLOMA

1 cole Primaire 1 - CI Boys: shirt & shorts
2 cole Primaire 2 - CP Girls: sleeveless dress
3 cole Primaire 3 - C1
4 cole Primaire 4 - C2
5 cole Primaire 5 - CM1
6 cole Primaire 6 - CM2 CEP
7 cole Secondaire 1 - 1st cycle 6th level Boys: shirt & shorts
8 cole Secondaire 2 - 1st cycle 5th level cole Polytechnique 5th level Girls: shortsleeve dress
9 cole Secondaire 3 - 1st cycle 4th level cole Polytechnique 4th level
10 cole Secondaire 4 - 1st cycle 3rd level cole Polytechnique 3rd level Brevet/CAP
11 cole Technique 5 - 2nd cycle 2nd level cole Polytechnique 2nd level or �cole Technique Boys: shirt & pants
12 cole Technique 6 - 2nd cycle 1st level cole Polytechnique 1st level or �cole Technique Girls: shortsleeve dress
13 cole Technique 7 - 2nd cycle Terminale cole Polytechnique Terminale or cole Technique BAC/Diplome
14 University None
15 University
16 University

• Licence

There are no ceremonies for completing a certain level of education. Although the government is considering graduation ceremonies for the University. Students must simply pass achievement tests before they can pass to the next cycle or level.

To verify that one has finished a certain level of schooling, a student is issued a "Diplome" by the Ministry of National Education. However, only one Diplome is issued per student, so most students leave their Diplome on file at the Ministry and the Ministry issues a notarized Letter of Attestation which can be replaced if it is lost or ruined.

Class Size

The government dictates the number of students that are allowed in each class depending on the level. The following table showed the class limits for the primary schools in Benin.

CI
not more than 60 students per class
CP not more than 45 students per class
C1
between 35-40 students per class
C2
between 35-40 students per class
CM1
between 25-30 students per class
CM2
between 25-30 students per class

Punishment

There are 3 authorized forms of punishment in the schools.

• 1. Reprimands
• 2. Reduction of grades
• 3. Detention

There are at least 3 forms of punishment that are specifically not allowed.

• 1. Corporal punishment; hitting, spanking, etc.
• 2. Repeated writing exercises; writing a word 100 times
• 3. Inflicting physical discomfort; kneeling for extended periods, holding arms at shoulder level for extended periods

Though the previous forms of punishment are officially "not permitted", they are frequently employed. In Azonzoundji, both teachers have a small switch which they use to regain and maintain order. Likewise, students are often forced to kneel for extended periods. For excessive or continual bad behavior the students can be suspended for 2 weeks. If the suspension does not work, the local school cannot expel a student. Only the Minister of National Education can expel a student.

Several sources affirm that one remnant of the colonial French school system is the emphasis which is placed on the right hand. Generally, students are strongly encouraged to write with their right hand. However, the School Director at Azonzoundji said that he tries to force the student to use their right hand for several months but if the student continues to prefer the left hand, eventually he will allow the student to write with the left hand. He implied that it is no longer officially required by the government so teachers are not as strict. However, since the parents of the students were taught to write with their right hand they usually insist that their children do as likewise. Some people contend that the insistence on using the right hand germinates from a concern for personal hygiene. This perspective is not as common as the one previously mentioned.

• Lunch Program

There is an international development program that supplies food for certain schools. Apparently, the program supplies lunch food for the school for 4 years during which the school is suppose to develop its own garden. The program assumes that after 4 years of developing a garden, the school will be able to support its own lunch program. The school in Azonzoundji just started the program in the fall of 1993. However, the Director of the school doesn't think that after 4 years the school will be able to supply its own food for lunch every day. He is already planning to re-apply after the initial 4 years. The cafeteria is called a "Canteen". In Azonzoundji it takes the form of a large, grass-roofed hanger. If a school has a canteen there is one committee which administers the Canteen in general and one committee of students which is responsible for the daily upkeep and operations (see: Roles).

1. Curriculum

The curriculum for the Primary Schools of Benin is surprisingly diverse. Throughout the 6 years of primary school the student advances in each of the following areas.

• FRENCH

Literature, Vocabulary, Grammar, Writing, Conjugations, Oral Expression, Reading, Dictation

• MATHEMATICS

Geometry, Metric system, Addition, Subtraction, Practical Problems, Mental Calculations

• HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY

• SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Exercises of observation

• AGRICULTURE

• FAMILY ECONOMY

Personal habits, etc.

• CIVIL EDUCATION & MORALS/ETHICS

Social studies

• EDUCATIONAL HOBBIES/PAST TIMES

Show -n- tell, Skits, Jokes, Games

• ACTIVITIES FOR THE INITIATION INTO

• PRODUCTION

School garden, Livestock, etc.

• PHYSICAL EDUCATION & SPORTS

Running, Soccer, etc.

Roles

• For each class

Each class has 3 students who are charged with different responsibilities. One student must organize the others to keep the class clean One student must keep discipline in the class and is in charge when the teacher is absent One student must organize the others to work in the garden or with the livestock

• For the school

Each school is governed by a committee of students (Student Council). The committee is comprised of the following;
1. President (a teacher)
2. Vice President
3. Secretary General
4. Treasurer
5. Secretary of Property
6. Secretary of Discipline
7. Secretary of Production

Each school is also governed by the local A.P.E. (Association des Parents des Eleves). This is the equivalent of the P.T.A. The A.P.E. is comprised of parents of all students enrolled in the school and is directed by a "Bureau" (committee) of 11 members elected by the others.

• For the Canteen

If there is a Canteen, a committee of 3 students is responsible for its daily operation.
1. One student checks for water
2. One student checks the clothing and personal cleanliness of the others
3. One student collects lunch money (15cfa/day)
For the general operation of the Canteen, there is a combined committee of students and adults. It is comprised as follows.
1. President (Director of the School)
2. Vice President (student)
3. Secretary (teacher)
4. Treasurer (student)
5. Treasurer Ajoint (teacher)
6. Local elected official (chief or asst. chief)
7. Two members of the A.P.E.

• Apprenticeship

Most students stop their public school education before they complete Secondary School. A large number enroll themselves in an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are available in virtually every field of work. The following is a representative list of the field in which one can be an apprentice.

1. Auto Mechanic
2. Mid-wife
3. Auto Electrical Specialist
4. Barber
5. Plumber
6. Beautician
7. Electrician
8. Mason
9. Electronics Repair
10. Graphic Artist/Sign Painter
11. Tailor
12. House Painter
13. Seamstress
14. Taxi-driver/chauffeur
15. Carpenter
16. Welder

To begin an apprenticeship, usually the parents must approach the boss and request that their child be accepted as an apprentice. There is usually a list of fees and materials that the apprentice must pay or collect. In most cases, the family is responsible for helping the apprentice get started and continue. Often, an apprenticeship can cost from 15,000 cfa to over 100,000 cfa depending on the kind of apprenticeship and the quality of the training.

The boss has virtually total control over his apprentices. It is expected that a boss treat his/her apprentices harshly. So frequent do bosses beat their apprentices that Christians in the Bohicon church expect that behavior from bosses and vow not to be that kind of a boss should they have apprentices. Nancy witnessed a very large woman who lives down the street from us severely beat a small girl apprentice with a stick.

Often in tailor or seamstress shops all of the apprentices will dress alike.

An apprenticeship can last 1, 2 or 3 years. Seldom does a boss agree to a one-year apprenticeship. Two and three-year apprenticeships are the norm, depending on the field and the apprentice's ability to master the skill. Some bosses have only one apprentice. Others may have as many as 30 or more all at various levels of mastery in the field.

Upon completing the 2 or 3 year apprenticeship, there is a large ceremony called a "Liberation". Often, it can take months to collect enough money to have the ceremony, but an apprentice is not officially liberated until he completes the ceremony at which the boss usually presents the parents with the document which certifies that the apprentice successfully completed the training. Usually, another large fee is paid to the boss, food, alcohol, drinks and sacrifices are supplied by the apprentice and his/her family. Occasionally, if many apprentices are ready to be liberated simultaneously, they will combine their ceremonies into one very large ceremony. These ceremonies can take-over an entire quartier (neighborhood); blocking-off streets with large tents. At ceremonies such as these, hundreds of guests can arrive to congratulate the apprentices.