Tunisian education ministry looks to improve universities

Tunisia’s educational institutions are suffering from discord and malaise A new committee will seek to ease tensions currently sweeping through Tunisian universities, according to the country’s Ministry of Higher Education spokesman. Spokesman Mourad el-Yacoby said a new organisation will assess reasons behind the ongoing on-campus deterioration, involving education experts, trade union officials and ministry officials.
One recent poll placed Tunisia behind many African countries in 2013 educational rankings, including Somalia, Rwanda and Uganda.
Tunisia’s Manouba University came 70th in the poll, while Carthage took 75th.
Tunisian students have meanwhile protested on-campus and outside the ministry itself, demanding educational institutions allow young women to sit exams wearing niqabs.
El-Yacoby has called on university authorities to exhibit “flexibility” when dealing with veiled students.
“The problem needs sorting out,” he added.