Tunisian Parliament’s Education Committee Holds Hearing on Human‑Resource Shortages, School Infrastructure, and Education Reform
Date: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Location: Committee on Education, Vocational Training, Scientific Research, Youth and Sports
Participants
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman of the Committee | Abderrazak Oueidat |
| Vice‑Chairman | Mounir Kammouni |
| Reporter | Najib Akremi |
| Committee Members | Manal Bdida, Kamel Farah, Hassan Ben Ali, Nasser Chenoufi (plus several non‑member deputies) |
| Deputy Vice‑Chair for Citizen & Civil‑Society Relations | Walid Haji |
| Deputy Vice‑Chair for Information & Communication | Mokhtar Aifaoui |
The attendance list was confirmed in a press release issued by the ARP (Assembly of the Representatives of the People).
1. Overview of the Session
The hearing was dedicated to questioning the Minister of Education on three critical topics:
- Human‑resource shortages in schools.
- State of school‑building infrastructure.
- Ongoing reform of the Tunisian education system.
2. Infrastructure Update
2.1 General Progress
- The Director General of Buildings and Equipment presented a detailed status report.
- Recent heavy rains and strong winds have damaged many school facilities.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total projects | 8,467 |
| Schools covered | 4,304 |
| Projects completed (100 % finished) | 2,690 |
| Projects still under execution | 1,047 |
2.2 Rehabilitation Programme
- The ministry disclosed the list of projects included in the Infrastructure Rehabilitation Monitoring Programme, together with their estimated total cost and the aggregate contract values per governorate.
2.3 Urgent‑Intervention Programme
- 634 projects approved, with a total estimated budget of D 69.8 million.
- 342 – completed or in progress.
- 156 – under evaluation by specialised control commissions.
- 121 – at the tender stage or finalising studies.
2.4 “Attractive School” Initiative
- 101 projects earmarked for:
- Creation of activity spaces.
- Development of sports fields.
- Construction of gymnasiums.
2.5 Equipment & Transport
- Pedagogical, IT, and photocopy equipment: D 74 million.
- School‑bus fleet: acquisition of 73 new buses.
- Canteen modernization to improve school‑service quality.
3. Human‑Resource Situation
- The Director of Administrative Affairs, General Directorate of Human Resources, highlighted acute shortages in primary, middle, and secondary schools for positions such as surveillance agents, cleaners, and catering staff.
- Estimated need: ≈ 2,100 additional agents.
Planned actions:
- Launch of a recruitment competition.
- Coordination with the Presidency of the Government to open posts on the functional‑mobility platform.
4. Preparations for the 2026‑2027 Academic Year
- Primary education: a new cohort of Education‑Science graduates will join in 2026.
- Middle & secondary education: the external recruitment competition for teachers was published in the Official Journal of the Tunisian Republic on 11 February 2026.
5. Education Reform
- The Director General of Evaluation and Quality explained that the national consultation results on education reform will be forwarded to the technical commissions of the Higher Council of Education.
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These results will shape future policies aimed at:
- Improving quality and performance across education, vocational training, and higher education.
- Promoting equal opportunities, lifelong learning, and enhanced graduate employability.
6. Key Issues Raised by Deputies
| Issue | Deputies’ Concerns |
|---|---|
| Human‑resource delays | Slow recruitment of surveillance, cleaning, supervisory, and pedagogical‑advisor staff; many candidates who passed national exams since 2017 still lack regularisation. |
| Contractual teachers | Recruitment of teachers outside the official database. |
| Financial law article 107 | Implementation of the 2026 Finance Law provision concerning integration of substitute teachers hired before 2006‑2008. |
| Recent national competition | Conditions and transparency of the latest teacher‑recruitment exam. |
| May 23 2023 agreement | Execution status of the agreement signed on that date. |
| Infrastructure decay | Dilapidated buildings, poor maintenance, overcrowded classrooms, and inadequate rural transport, especially in interior regions. |
| School violence & safety | Rising incidents threatening the security of students and staff. |
| Reform urgency | Call for the Ministry to accelerate concrete measures while awaiting the operational start of the Higher Council of Education. |
7. Minister of Education’s Responses
-
Infrastructure
- Acknowledged severe degradation in interior and rural schools, jeopardising safety and the learning environment.
- Emphasised a new governance model for maintenance and construction budgets to ensure efficiency, transparency, and safety.
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Urgent‑Intervention Programme (post‑El Mezzouna incident)
- Allocated D 56 million for building protective enclosures around schools.
- Pursuing accelerated procedures: fast‑track consultations and direct negotiations based on strict criteria.
- Ongoing coordination with all stakeholders to speed up pending projects.
-
Human‑resource regularisation
- Cited progress under Decree No. 21/2025 (8 January 2025) for integrating substitute teachers into primary, middle, and secondary schools.
- 24,000 agents, cadres, and officials regularised up to January 2026.
- Second tranche: paid Q4 2025 salaries before integrating staff into the regular payroll; continued regularisation of supervisory personnel and subcontracted workers.
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Legal & procedural matters
- 2008‑2024 and 2006‑2024 appeals are under review for a proposal to the Government Presidency.
- Vacancy‑filling minutes are governed by a one‑year circular.
- Implementation of Article 107 of the 2026 Finance Law awaits the publication of necessary regulatory texts.
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External recruitment competition
- Clarified that the competition is not linked to past social‑security regularisations or unused budget credits; it aims to meet part of the staffing needs, with control bodies overseeing transparency.
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Education reform vision
- Stated that the reform is a strategic state choice and will be carried out through a participatory approach involving all sector actors.
8. Conclusion
The hearing highlighted significant challenges—from infrastructure decay and human‑resource gaps to the need for swift, transparent reforms—while also showcasing the Ministry’s planned investments and policy initiatives for the upcoming academic year. Deputies called for accelerated action, and the Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising Tunisia’s education system through better governance, targeted funding, and inclusive stakeholder participation.
Keywords for SEO: Tunisian education reform, school infrastructure rehabilitation, teacher recruitment Tunisia 2026, human resources shortage schools, Ministry of Education Tunisia, urgent school interventions, education policy Tunisia, higher council of education, article 107 finance law Tunisia.
