Tunisian President Kais Saied affirmed that the education sector is a sovereign domain, emphasizing that there is no future for any nation without education that equally provides all the conditions for learning and continuous motivation for intellectual activities in every field.
President Saied’s remarks came during his meeting with the new Minister of Education, Salwa Al-Abbasi, at the Carthage Palace. He explained that the inclusion of the Higher Council of Education in the text of the Constitution on July 25, 2022, stems from a profound appreciation for the position that the education sector should occupy, according to a statement from the Tunisian presidency.
The Tunisian president stressed that education is a mission and that students are a trust, with everyone obliged to fulfill this mission with constant awareness of its nobility.
Earlier in the day, President Saied attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new Minister of Education, Salwa Al-Abbasi.
Recent developments within the education sector in Tunisia have focused on addressing challenges of equity, quality, efficiency, performance, and governance amidst economic crises and political instability. Efforts have been geared towards transforming the education system through a comprehensive strategy aimed at adapting learning content and methodologies. This transformation is critical for ensuring quality education for all children and youth, equipping them with relevant 21st-century skills for employment and active citizenship. The Tunisian government has demonstrated its commitment by working to reduce dropout rates and repetition throughout the secondary level of education. Despite progress, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges, particularly affecting the most vulnerable students. The performance of Tunisia’s education system has seen a decline, widening the gap between different socio-economic groups and between urban and rural areas, as well as public and private schooling sectors.
A notable initiative is the development of a new 8-year education sector plan (2023 – 2030), accompanied by a three-year budgeted action plan (2023 – 2025). These plans are being formulated by the Ministry of Education in close collaboration with local education partners and are based on evidence and data that will be included in an upcoming education sector analysis. The plans aim to continue improving teacher training, curricula, infrastructure, and the framework for private sector partnerships. The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) has supported this process with a system capacity grant, signaling international support for Tunisia’s educational reforms.
Furthermore, civil society engagement remains a vital component of Tunisia’s educational strategy. GPE’s Education Out Loud fund is supporting the Tunisian Coalition for Education for the 2020-2023 period, underscoring the role of advocacy and social accountability efforts in educational reform.
