2026-2027 school year: school canteens now feed 1.9 million pupils

Benin's schools reopened on Monday 14 September 2026. The new year comes with a package of social measures adopted by the Council of Ministers on 2 September 2026, with an overall cost estimated at around 30 billion CFA francs.

500,000 more pupils at the canteen

The national integrated school feeding programme (PNASI) now reaches 1.9 million pupils in public nursery and primary schools, up from around 1.4 million in 2025-2026. It is run by the National Food and Nutrition Agency (ANAN). The presidential programme aims to cover every public primary school.

Other measures

• Secondary: 12,000 school desks, rebuilding of the Abomey girls' high school and an emergency plan for schools in border areas.
• Higher education: grants raised by up to 49%, 63 new buses for four universities, new university restaurants.
• Inclusion: fee waivers for 5,000 pupils with disabilities.
• School kits: 145,580 pupils received a free kit.

Enrolling a child in Benin?

Your child's civil status documents must be in order. The post can help with the legalisation of school reports and diplomas and with other consular acts. See also our help centre. These measures form the social pillar of the Wadagni government's programme.

Sources

• General Secretariat of the Government — Council of Ministers report, 2 September 2026
• Kaweru — Nearly 30 billion CFA for back-to-school social measures
• Bénin Web TV — Back to school (14 September 2026)