In Tunisia , education is allocated a primordial part of the state budget (7% of the GNP). Schooling is free from the beginning classes through the secondary cycle, and no difference is made between boys and girls.

Tunisia early in its history achieved the object of universal education. Today 99% of school age children attend class, the nation therefore having long since attained the objective that UNESCO has projected for the year 2015!

2,3 million students out of a population of 10 M inhabitants will be enrolled in primary and secondary cycles this year. In addition, more than 344,000 students will further their educations at one of Tunisia 's thirteen universities, or 162 institutions of higher learning. That is to say that nearly a quarter of the nation's population goes to school , and this is without counting the adults (more than 200,000) who benefit from the three levels of professional education sanctioned by a state-delivered certificate. All these students and learners of different types and at different levels enjoy a panoply of services and pedagogical methodologies. Students enrolled in various adult education classes alone have access to 5,800 educational centers located throughout the country.

Tunisia can be justly proud of her progressive stance and high achievement in matters of education !

Serious and dedicated investment in knowledge of different sorts is one of the principal advantages of modern Tunisia .

The 2004-2005 school year is characterized by several reforms and innovations among which the following bear particular mention :

• The establishement of the strategy of tomorrow's school (closely related to the American notion of « no child left behind »).
• The progressive implementation of measure of basic competencies that will affect the fifth grade of primary school.

The introduction of physical sciences in 8th grade.

• The introduction of computer technologies and communications into technical schools.
• The renewal of computer banks in all schools.
• The integration of special needs children into mainstream classrooms.
• A structural reworking resulting in nine new degrees in the Humanities. Letters = languages, human sciences. Social sciences = experimental sciences, mathematics, technical sciences. Economics and the service indust ry = economy, management, and business. Technology = industrial computer science, computer science, and multimedia studies.

Judicial references :

• Law on education N°118-1958 du 04.11.1958
• Law on the educational system N°65-1991 du 29.07.1991
• Law on advising and educational orientation N°80-2002 du 23.07.2002

Mohamed Rebai
info@kairouan.org