Students drop out in chronic numbers in Tunisia

Tunisia sees a chronic drop-out of primary and secondary students Tunis – Azhar Jarboui One hundred thousand students have dropped out of Tunisian schools between 2012 and 2013, according to the Education Ministry. A representative from the Ministry of Education , Hadi Abbasi said, “Many reasons have contributed to drop-outs of such a large number, including educational, economic and social issues affecting the country”.
Abbasi said most of students who had dropped out, around 10 thousand, were within the primary and secondary years of schooling.  He added that the ministry had discussed the issue with the Ministries for Social Affairs for Women, and Family Affairs, to address the cause of the problem.  He said the departments were looking into social and economic factors affecting families of the students.
According to the ministry, 28 new schools have been built in the country in an effort to develop the education sector.  Around 820 further education school, 428 primary schools, 310 secondary schools and 28 specialist institutions were currently operational.
Abbasi said the main problem affecting the education sector is poor management.  He said overcrowded schools in highly populated areas along with the issue of old and dilapidated buildings, was compounding the issue.
Experts said Tunisia’s biggest problem is a lack of quality teaching.  In a bid to combat the growing issue Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki appointed a special committee to draw back students into schools.