Health & Education
From The Report: Tunisia 2017
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Health care has been a national priority for the Tunisian government since the country gained independence from France in 1956. A focus of continued investment, the health care sector has since seen the development of a nationwide network of public hospitals and health centres, with the country quickly becoming a model in North Africa. The combination of private sector investment and public sector reforms positions the sector for continued growth. In recent years, private health care has taken the lead in terms of investment, with the construction of a number of new health clinics. This development is set to help the country to solidify its position as a regional medical tourism destination. In the decades following independence, Tunisia was among the countries with the highest investment in education in the region. This enabled it to introduce important legal changes, such as compulsory basic education, which led to high enrolment and literacy rates. However, in the face of deteriorating quality standards and high unemployment rates among young graduates, authorities are now looking to overhaul the education and vocational training system with a series of upcoming reform measures that could significantly reshape the face of Tunisia’s education system in the coming years.

This chapter contains an interview with Tahar Ben Lakhdar, Co-founder and CEO, Esprit.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Solid foundation: New public and private infrastructure projects are set to raise standards of care
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Health care has been a national priority for the Tunisian government since the country gained independence from France in 1956. A focus of continued investment, the health care sector has since seen the development of a nation-wide network of public hospitals and health centres, with the country quickly becoming a model in North Africa. In recent years, the private health care sector has taken the lead in terms of investment, with the construction of a number of new health clinics. This…

Analysis

Export platforms: Local pharmaceutical companies eye new markets
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More than 30 years after Tunisia became one of the first countries in the region to establish a pharmaceuticals industry, the sector boasts nearly 40 production units for human medicine and six for animal medicine. According to a 2014 report by the World Bank, between 2000 and 2013 the industry grew at an average rate of 15%, significantly above the global average. Enjoying steady expansion at home, Tunisia’s pharmaceuticals industry is increasingly looking to leverage its competitive manufacturing…

Overview

On track: A series of reforms are set to overhaul the sector
OBG
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In the decades following independence from French colonialism, Tunisia was among the countries with the highest investment in education in the region. This enabled the North African country to introduce important legal changes, such as compulsory basic education, which led to high enrolment and literacy rates. Indeed, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, in 2015 Tunisia’s literacy rate stood at 96.6% among 15-24 year olds. However, facing deteriorating quality standards and…

Interview

Upward insight: Tahar Ben Lakhdar, Co-founder and CEO, Esprit, on higher education reform and trends for success
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Interview: Tahar Ben Lakhdar How can higher education in Tunisia be brought in line with the needs of the labour market? TAHAR BEN LAKHDAR: Public higher education in Tunisia has largely fallen short of adequately preparing students for the needs of the labour market. It is often rigid and inadequate for a constantly changing labour market. It has traditionally relied on the idea that the acquisition of pre-determined facts will lead to useful skills. Such pedagogy ignores the kind of skills acquired…