Recent Study Reveals Deep-Rooted Crisis in Tunisian Education System
A recent study conducted by the Tunisian Institute for Strategic Studies (ITES), titled "Artificial Intelligence as a Lever for the Social Role of the State," sheds light on the profound crisis facing the Tunisian education system. The report reveals that 72% of primary and secondary school students encounter significant difficulties in mathematics, a figure that alerts to the urgency of a structural reform.
Decline in Academic Performance
The data presented by ITES paints a worrying picture of the Tunisian school system and highlights the fragilities of the education system. In reading, 34% of primary school students do not master the minimum required skills, compromising their entire academic career. Student dropout rates are another alarming indicator: approximately 100,000 students leave school each year, mainly during primary school. Despite a high enrollment rate among 6-16 year olds, estimated at 92%, it drops to 65% at the secondary level, revealing a critical rupture in educational continuity.
Financial Burden on Families
Adding to these difficulties is the growing financial burden on families. On average, Tunisian households spend 1,179 dinars per year on private lessons to compensate for the shortcomings of the public system, which exacerbates social inequalities in education.
Artificial Intelligence and Education: A Strategic Solution
In response to this situation, ITES proposes the massive integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the Tunisian education system. The report formulates 23 recommendations structured around three major axes: the development of intelligent pedagogical tools, teacher training in digital technologies, and the strengthening of the digital educational ecosystem.
Among the flagship solutions proposed:
- The implementation of intelligent pedagogical assistants for language learning (Arabic, French, English), focusing on grammar, pronunciation, and conversation.
- The deployment of digital tutors in mathematics capable of offering personalized and adaptive support to reduce the 72% failure rate.
- The use of AI systems for early diagnosis of learning disorders from the first years of schooling, allowing for targeted and rapid interventions.
Opportunities and Challenges of AI in the Tunisian Education System
In a video intervention, Maladh Marrakchi, a lecturer and senior consultant in artificial intelligence, emphasized that AI represents a major opportunity to personalize evaluation, adapt pedagogical content, and optimize student monitoring. However, he also stressed the need for a clear regulatory framework to limit the risks associated with data use and technological drift.
The report identifies significant advantages for succeeding in this digital transition. Tunisia has a dynamic ecosystem of EdTech startups and a growing adoption of distance learning platforms. The main obstacle remains the deficit in teacher training in AI tools, a condition essential for ensuring effective and equitable integration of these technologies.
Through this study, ITES places artificial intelligence at the heart of the debate on education reform in Tunisia, presenting it not as a miracle solution, but as a strategic lever to restore the quality of teaching and reduce educational inequalities.
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