The Higher Institute of Social Sciences and Education in Gafsa Hosts a Scientific Conference on School Dropout: Causes and Solutions
The Higher Institute of Social Sciences and Education in Gafsa hosted a scientific conference on Thursday, November 20, 2025, dedicated to the study of school dropout: causes and solutions, with the participation of experts and academics in education. This meeting aimed to diagnose one of the most complex problems facing the educational system in Tunisia.
Presentation by Lotfi Labassi
During the event, Lotfi Labassi, a Doctor of Contemporary History and Distinguished Inspector General at the Ministry of Education, presented a lengthy intervention revealing precise data and shocking figures that highlight the magnitude and gravity of the crisis. The speaker explained that approximately 300 students drop out of school every day, which translates to an annual average of between 60,000 and 100,000 dropouts. This colossal figure testifies to a continuous hemorrhage in the ranks of learners, particularly in inland regions and schools suffering from fragile infrastructure and lack of supervision.
Consequences of School Dropout
He added that between 2010 and 2020, Tunisian schools recorded the failure of approximately one million students at different levels of education, which cost the state more than 345 million dinars, equivalent to 13% of the Ministry of Education's budget. He estimated that this financial burden is disproportionate to the magnitude of social and human losses generated by school dropout, including increased unemployment rates, rising delinquency, and decreased integration into economic life.
Complex Social Reality
The doctor emphasized that these indicators cannot be treated as mere inert numbers; they reflect a complex social reality where factors such as poverty, lack of school transportation, declining learning levels, absence of parallel activities, and weak psychological and pedagogical support for learners are intertwined. He also called for a necessary revision of current educational policies, the development of teaching methods, and the creation of an attractive school climate that gives students the desire to learn and pursue their academic career.
Call for Global Reform
The conference participants affirmed that addressing this issue requires a global reform vision involving the Ministries of Education, Social Affairs, Transportation, and Health, in addition to the role of the family and civil society. They considered that the future of hundreds of thousands of students depends on the state's ability to implement effective strategies to reduce dropout rates and support success opportunities.
Conclusion
The conference concluded with the affirmation that school dropout is no longer a simple passing phenomenon, but a dangerous drift that requires urgent intervention and clear political will to save public schools and protect them against the wave of abandonment and failure.
