Benin: here is the school year calendar for 2025-2026
The Beninese government, through the ministries responsible for preschool, primary, secondary, technical, and professional training, has made public the academic calendar for the 2025-2026 school year.
SUMMARY
The calendar for the 2025-2026 academic year is already available. This calendar, established by an interministerial order dated June 19, 2025, will apply in all public and private educational institutions in Benin, with the exception of agricultural technical high schools and vocational and apprenticeship training centers.
It outlines key dates for the start of the school year, holidays, and vacation periods, with the aim of ensuring a well-structured and harmonious academic year.
Dates of preliminary start and actual commencement of classes
The adopted calendar specifies that the preliminary start of the school year will be held from Monday, September 8, to Friday, September 12, 2025, a week dedicated to educational preparations. Regular classes will begin from Monday, September 15, 2025, thus marking the official start of the first term, which will last until Friday, December 19, 2025, after the afternoon classes. This first period of classes will last 14 weeks.
The students will then have a two-week break, from December 19, 2025, to January 4, 2026, inclusive.
Second term
The second term will start on Monday, January 5, 2026, and end on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, after the classes. This period of 11 weeks and 3 days will be interjected by a week’s break for relaxation, from Friday, February 20th, to Sunday, March 1, 2026, inclusive.
The end of second term vacation is set from Wednesday, April 1, to Wednesday, April 15, 2026, which will provide two weeks of rest for learners and education staff.
Third term and summer vacation
The third term will commence on Thursday, April 16, 2026, and end on Friday, June 26, 2026, totaling 10 weeks and two days of classes. The big summer holiday will then extend from Friday, June 26 (after the afternoon classes), to Sunday, September 13, 2026.
The effective resumption of educational activities is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2026, in all concerned establishments.
Public holidays and special cases
The calendar also provides for the suspension of classes on days of celebration and public holidays, including the festival of traditional religions: Thursday, January 8, and Friday, January 9, 2026, Labor Day: Friday, May 1, 2026, Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14, 2026, and Pentecost Monday: May 25, 2026.
Other days declared public by the Ministry of Labor will also be observed.
Special cases of agricultural high schools and training centers
Agricultural technical institutions and training and apprenticeship centers will benefit from a specific calendar, to be determined by the minister in charge of secondary, technical, and professional training education.
This new calendar is the result of broad consultation, particularly with trade unions during a meeting on March 19, 2025, and the favorable opinion of the National Council of Education given on June 5, 2025. It takes effect from Monday, September 8, 2025, and replaces the determination of the previous academic year.
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