Minister Armand Kuyema NATTA concluded a four-day tour of educational facilities across the Borgou and Alibori departments on 15 October 2026. The official visit, which began on 12 October 2026, occurred one month after the official start of the 2026-2027 school year in Benin on 14 September 2026. Minister Armand Kuyema NATTA assessed school conditions throughout the northern region during the trip. This assessment focused on the practical realities of the academic calendar as the 2026-2027 school year in Benin, which began on September 14, 2026, enters its second month of operations.
Touring Northern School Districts
Minister Armand Kuyema NATTA visited eight communes during the tour to evaluate the state of local infrastructure. The itinerary included stops in Tchaourou, Parakou, N’Dali, Malanville, Pèrèrè, Kandi, Banikoara, and Gogounou. These locations provided an overview of the educational environment across the Borgou and Alibori departments. By visiting these specific eight communes—Tchaourou, Parakou, N’Dali, Malanville, Pèrèrè, Kandi, Banikoara, and Gogounou—the minister aimed to gain a full understanding of how individual school districts are managing current student populations and existing building maintenance requirements.
Operations included a specific inspection of a public primary school in Garou, Malanville. Officials identified this facility as being located in a previously insecure area. The visit allowed Minister Armand Kuyema NATTA to observe the operational status of the school directly following the recent stabilization of the zone. The inspection in Garou, Malanville, served as a focal point for the minister to examine how educational continuity is maintained in areas that have transitioned from periods of instability. Minister Armand Kuyema NATTA spent time reviewing the physical state of the classrooms and the availability of educational materials provided to the students within this specific facility.
Minister Armand Kuyema NATTA stated that the government requires reliable school statistics to inform decision-making processes. Data collection remains a priority for the ministry to ensure that resources are allocated effectively to regions with the highest needs. Accurate reporting on student enrollment and facility conditions will guide future planning for the department. Minister NATTA emphasized the need for reliable school statistics to inform decision-making, noting that the ministry’s ability to respond to the specific requirements of the Borgou and Alibori departments depends on the precision of the data gathered during site visits.
The minister showed that the information collected between October 12 and October 15, 2026, will be integrated into the broader administrative framework to improve infrastructure management. By prioritizing accurate reporting on student enrollment and facility conditions, the ministry aims to refine the distribution of teaching personnel and educational equipment. Minister Armand Kuyema NATTA indicated that this data-driven approach is essential for long-term planning, ensuring that the ministry can address infrastructure gaps identified during the tour of these eight communes. The findings from the inspection in Garou, Malanville, will specifically inform how the government supports schools in zones that have recently returned to stability, ensuring that students in these areas have access to a consistent learning environment throughout the remainder of the 2026-2027 academic year.