Tunisia Way

The first nine years of school education, is compulsory and divided into two distinct stages: six years of primary and three years of preparatory education (lower secondary). Students must score an average of 50 percent (10/20) or better on regional examinations at the end of the sixth grade to progress to the lower-secondary cycle. Students are tested in Arabic writing and reading comprehension; French writing; reading and dictation; mathematics; introductory science; Islamic studies; history; geography and civic education. Although a relatively high percentage of students fail their grade six examinations, the number is decreasing due to government efforts to make secondary studies more accessible. In 1991-92, 26 percent of students had to repeat grade six; in 1999-2000 that figure dropped to 18 percent. During the same period, the number of students dropping out after grade six fell from 17 percent to 7 percent.

After completing the basic nine-year cycle, students sit for the examen national de fin d’études de l’enseignement de base, success in which (average of 10/20 or better) leads to the award of the Diplôme de Fin d’Etudes de l’Enseignement de Base. All subjects are taught in Arabic with the exception of French and English which are taught from the third and eighth grade respectively. Students are tested at the end of each trimester in all subjects via oral, written and practical tests. Progress from one year to the next is based on the cumulative results of trimester exams and coursework on which students must score an average of 50 percent or better.

The first six years of the primary cycle is taught at primary schools and the final three at collèges