N.B: Please be aware that most resources and sources are in Arabic.
Overview of the Country
Background:
- Official name: Republic of Tunisia 1
- Capital: Tunis 1
- Location: Northern Africa 1
- Official language: Arabic 1
- Population: 12,458,223 (2023) 2
- Gross domestic product (GDP): US$ 48.53 Billion (2023) 3
- Gross national income (GNI) per capita, PPP (current international $): 13,310 (2023) 4
Membership of Regional Economic Communities (RECs):
Additional Resources:
Sources:
Education Priorities, Policy and Strategy References
The Education Sector Goals include: 1
- Integrated and Sustainable Education: Establish a system that adapts to technological changes, enhancing human capital for a knowledge-based economy.
- Universal Early Childhood Education: Make preparatory years mandatory, focusing on fostering intellectual skills and creativity, especially in underserved areas.
- Equal Opportunities: Remove educational barriers, ensure equitable access, and promote lifelong learning for all, including disadvantaged groups.
- Quality Enhancement: Transition to analytical learning, improve curricula, integrate technology, and meet international standards.
- Alignment with Market Needs: Align education with economic demands, revise specializations, and strengthen technical and vocational pathways.
- Research and Innovation: Focus on research to address national priorities, increase R&D investment, and support partnerships with economic institutions.
Policy and Strategy References
Education Sector Plan
Guidance Note - Tunisia 2035
Strategic Plan for the Reform of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Early Childhood Education Policy Framework:
- République Tunisienne. (2017). Stratégie Nationale Multisectorielle de Développement de la Petite Enfance 2017 – 2025
- UNICEF Tunisie (2022). Cadrage et Perspectives 2030 de la Préscolarisation en Tunisie
- UNICEF, and Countdown to 2030 Women’s, Children’s and Adolescent’s Health. Country Profiles for Early Childhood Development”. (2023)
- Développement de la Petite Enfance (page du projet)
The National Qualifications Framework:
National digital strategic plan
- Plan National Stratégique « Tunisie Digitale 2020 »
- Ministère des Technologies de la Communication
- Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA). Country Profile Report – Tunisia Study on the Use of ICT in Education and Remote Learning during Crises (upcoming)
Inclusive Education Policy
- Ministère de l’Education. (2016). Tunisie Plan Stratégique Sectoriel de l’Education 2016-2020
- GEMR Inclusion Profile
Gender integration action plan
- Ministère des Finances. (2023). Plan d'Action National pour l'Intégration et l'Institutionnalisation du Genre (PANIIG): Introduction à la Budgétisation Sensible au Genre en Tunisie.
- Ministère de la Famille, de la Femme, de l'Enfance et des Seniors
- Centre de Recherches, d'Etudes de Documentation et d’Information sur la Femme
- The African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa (AU/CIEFFA)
- Evidence for Gender and Education Resource for Tunisia
Youth strategy:
- Ministère de la Jeunesse et des Sports. (2024). La Stratégie Nationale de la Jeunesse à l’horizon 2035
- ILO Youth Country Brief
Resilience plan:
Climate change policy
- L’éducation environnementale pour le développement durable
- Ministère de l’environnement, Ministère de l’éducation. (2021). Guide de formation des formateurs en Education pour le Développement Durable (EDD)
Non-state actors in Education
Future Education Scenario:
Additional Resources
Sources:
Governance and Structure
Governance Structure for Education: 1
- The Ministry of Education oversees primary and secondary education. It is responsible for developing educational policies, managing curricula, training and managing teachers, ensuring equitable access to quality education, and improving educational infrastructure.
- The Ministry of Employment and Vocational training is responsible for overseeing vocational training and employment policies, ensuring workforce development, managing vocational training centers, and aligning educational programs with labor market needs.
- The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research manages higher education institutions and oversees scientific research. It is responsible for developing policies, ensuring quality education, promoting research and innovation, and aligning higher education with national development goals.
Education System Structure Encompasses: 1
- Pre-primary: targets children before they enter primary school.
- Primary: covers grade 1 to 6 and for ages from 6-11 years.
- Lower Secondary: covers grades 7 to 9 for students aged 12 to 14. It allows for specialization tracks based on students’ abilities.
- Upper Secondary: Includes grades 10-12. Students choose between different academic tracks such as science, arts and technical education.
- Higher Education: comprises bachelor's degree, master’s and doctorate. Tunisia has public and private institutions as well as technical ones.
Additional Resources:
- Non-State Actors in Education-Tunisia
- L’Agence Tunisienne de Formation Professionnelle: l'organisme principal de formation public en Tunisie
- Centre National de Formation Continue et de Promotion Professionnelle
- UIS Country Profile
Sources
Access and Participation
School age population (2023): 1
- Pre-primary: 628 628
- Primary: 1 291 923
- Lower secondary: 568 802
- Upper secondary: 701 996
Gross enrolment ratio (2023): 1
- Pre-primary: No data found
- Primary: 103.53 %
- Lower Secondary: 104.12 %
- Upper secondary: No data found
Completion rates (2022): 2
- Primary: 92.72 %
- Lower Secondary: 75.62 %
- Upper Secondary: 35.63 %
Out-of-School rate: 2
- Primary school age: 1.94 % (2023)
- Lower secondary school age: No data found
- Upper secondary school age: No data found
Additional Resources:
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Teaching
Percentage of teachers qualified according to the national standards: 1
- Pre-primary: 100% (2023)
- Primary: 100% (2023)
- Lower secondary: 100% (2022)
- Upper secondary: 100% (2022)
Percentage of teachers trained according to the national standards: 1
- Pre-primary: no data found
- Primary: no data found
- Lower secondary: no data found
- Upper secondary: no data found
Additional Resources:
- Plateforme du Centre National de Formation et de Perfectionnement (CENAFOP) destinée aux enseignants et au personnel éducatif, which has received the ISO 29993 certification
- Diverses ressources du programme APPRENDRE (Appui à la Professionnalisation des Pratiques Enseignantes et des Ressources Educatives) notamment en mathématiques et sciences
Sources:
School Facilities
School infrastructure and facilities / Electricity (2023): 1
- Primary education: 99.98%
- Lower secondary education: 100%
- Upper secondary education: 100%
School infrastructure and facilities / Single‐sex basic sanitation facilities (2023): 1
- Primary education: 97.56%
- Lower secondary education: 100%
- Upper secondary education: 100%
Additional Resources:
- For more information on coverage of the learning environment, including basic handwashing facilities, and basic drinking water can be found on UNESCO Institute for Statistics country profile
Sources:
TVET / TVSD
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 15-64 years old: 1
- Both sexes: 13.99% (2023)
- Male: 12.93% (2023)
- Female: 15.01% (2023)
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 15-24 years old: 1
- Both sexes: 63.22% (2023)
- Male: 56.86% (2023)
- Female: 69.86 (2023)
Proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education: 1
- Both sexes: No data found
- Male: No data found
- Female: No data found
Share of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET): 2
- Both sexes: 22.6% (2023)
- Male: 24.4%
- Female: 20.8%
Number of people 15-35 years old: 2
- Total: 3,548,064 (2024)
- Employed: 1,146,025 people (32.3%)
- Unemployed: 304, 069 people (8.6%)
- Inactive: 878, 855 people (24.8%)
- Student: 1,219,470 people (34.4%)
Additional Resources:
- Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Formation professionnelle
- Institut National de la Statistique
- UNEVOC TVET Country Profile
- ADEA Continental Mapping of HESR (upcoming)
- Private Higher Education institutions
Sources:
Higher Education
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education (2023): 1
- Both sexes: 38.45%
- Male: 27.97%
- Female: 49.18%
Number of Universities: 2
- Total: 286 (2013-2023)
Higher Education Quality Assurance Body: 3
Additional Resources:
- Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique. (2015). Plan Stratégique de la Réforme de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique 2015 – 2025
- UNESCO Higher Education Policy Observatory Country Profile
- Ministère de la jeunesse, des sports et de l’intégration professionnelle. (2021). L’Assurance Qualité Dans L’Enseignement Et La Formation Professionnels En Tunisie. Institution Membre Du Forum ETF
Sources:
Equity and Inclusion
Gender Parity Index (GPI) gross enrolment ratio (2023): 1
- Primary: 0.98
- Lower secondary: 1.03
- Upper secondary: no data found
Adjusted Gender Parity Index (GPIA) gross enrolment ratio (2023): 2
- Tertiary: 1.43
Proportion of schools with adapted infrastructure and materials for students with disabilities: 2
- Primary Education: no data found
- Lower secondary: no data found
- Upper secondary: no data found
Additional Resources:
- Ministère de la Famille, de la Femme, de l'Enfance et des Seniors
- Evidence for Gender and Education Resource for Tunisia
- GEMR – Inclusion Profile
Sources:
Education Financing
Expenditure on Education: 1
- Government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP: 6.73%
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government expenditure: 17.81%
Additional Resources:
Sources:
Literacy
Literacy rate by age group: 1
- 15+ years: 85.21% (2022)
- 15-24 years: 98.16% (2022)
- 25-64 years: 88.11% (2022)
- 65+ years: 39.00% (2019)
Literacy rate by sex (2022): 1
- Both sexes: 85.21%
- Males: 92.57%
- Females: 78.26%
Additional Resources:
Sources:
Educational Technology
Proportion of schools with access to internet for pedagogical purposes (2023): 1
- Average: 99.47%
- Lower secondary: 100%
- Upper secondary: 98.94%
Proportion of secondary schools with access to computers for pedagogical purposes (2023): 1
- Average: 100%
- Lower secondary: 100%
- Upper secondary: 100%
Additional Resources:
- ADEA ICT4E Botswana Country Report (upcoming)
Sources:
Education in Emergencies (EiE)
Total:
- Refugees and asylum seekers: 16,638 1
- Internally Displaced Persons due to conflict or natural disasters: No data found 2