Only two days separate us from the start of the school year. Only two days and schools, colleges and high schools will open their doors in front of hundreds of thousands of students. For months, the Ministry of Education has adopted strategies related to, mainly, with the vaccination of pupils (intensive vaccination campaigns for those aged between 15 and 17 and) and the educational framework, reductions in the prices of school books and even an initiative to modify school curricula being the subject of discussions during meetings within the Ministry of Education with representatives of trade unions.
In a press conference held on Monday, September 13, 2021, the Minister of Education, Fethi Sellaouti, indicated that 2,314,000 students, including 60,400 students in preparatory classes, 1,232,660 in primary and 1,021,274 in secondary, an increase of e2.9% compared to last year. As for the number of teachers, it reached 154,873.
Ministry of Education’s 2021 Back-to-School Budget
According to the minister, the budget of the department for the year 2021 amounts to 6,743 million dinars recording an increase of 3.3% compared to 2020. However, it remains insufficient due to the enormous demands of the education sector.
It should be noted that young investors have taken charge of the maintenance of 340 establishments.
Schools are divided into 4,590 primary schools and 1,540 secondary schools and high schools. Sellaouti said 971 educational institutions have been maintained and expanded, at a cost of 3.25 million dinars, including 62 prefabricated rooms at a cost of 2.17 million dinars, and 36 prefabricated health kits at a cost of 1.08 million dinars, with the conclusion of 68 contracts for direct negotiations with small companies at a cost of 13.6 million dinars to intervene in about 340 educational institutions.
69,000 students left school
In the past year, 69,000 students have dropped out of school due to the pandemic. In this context, the Minister noted that a study will be developed to find solutions to the eternal problem suffered by public schools.
Sellaouati also indicated that about 8,080 additional teachers are needed, but given budget constraints, they are not being able to be recruited.
Recall that during the hearing with the Minister of Education, Fethi Sellaouti, on August 11, 2021, the President of the Republic, Kaïs Saïed, said that the start of the school year should take place “normally and in the best conditions”.
Rifi-JDD