The Effectiveness of Continuing Education in the Republican Police of Benin: Between Operational Constraints and Professionalization Needs

This work analyzes the effectiveness of continuing education within the Republican Police of Benin through a mixed methodological approach mobilizing the D. Kirkpatrick model and self-determination theory. The research, conducted with 150 participants, reveals that continuing education is widely recognized as an essential lever for professionalization, in a security context marked by rapid changes and increasing operational demands. The results show, however, that officers' motivation remains dominated by extrinsic factors such as professional recognition, financial incentives, and career advancement prospects. Although intrinsic motivation exists among some officers, it remains minority and insufficiently supported by current organizational practices. The analyses also reveal several structural challenges: limited resources, excessive standardization of modules, low officer availability, lack of program updates, unequal hierarchical support, and significant obstacles to the transfer of learning in the field. These constraints reduce the satisfaction of the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, thereby limiting the depth of learning and the real impact of training on operational performance. The research concludes that a comprehensive reform of the continuing education system is necessary, based on content modernization, better adaptation to regional and professional realities, strengthening of recognition mechanisms, and a stronger commitment from the hierarchy. Such an approach would optimize the effectiveness of training, stimulate more autonomous and lasting motivation, and contribute to the strengthening of police professionalism.