Tunisian Education Ministry Addresses Concerns Over Teacher Placement and Corruption Allegations
The Tunisian Ministry of Education has affirmed its commitment to transparency in the allocation of substitute teachers (primary and secondary schools) through the implementation of a computerized system. This system, according to the ministry, eliminates human intervention in the nomination process. The ministry also responded to allegations of corruption surrounding recent teacher placements.
Automated System for Teacher Allocation
The Ministry of Education has adopted an IT system to manage the distribution of substitute teachers across primary and secondary schools based on vacant positions. The ministry asserts that this system ensures transparency by removing any possibility of human influence in the selection process.
Review of Existing Appointments
The ministry clarified that no appointments made by regional delegations have been revoked, except in cases where legal requirements were not met. These primarily involve discrepancies in degree qualifications with the “LMD” system (License, Master, Doctorate) or a mismatch between the university specialization and the subject taught.
Criteria for the 2026 Recruitment Cycle
Regarding the 2026 recruitment cycle, the Ministry of Education stated that assignments were based on two key criteria: age and family situation. Priority was given to older candidates and those who are married with dependents. The ministry emphasized that these criteria are “immutable and cannot be subject to any challenge.”
Response to Corruption Allegations
In response to accusations of corruption, the Ministry of Education has called for concrete evidence to support any claims of impropriety in the recruitment process. The ministry stated it will open “administrative investigations to establish responsibilities” if such evidence is provided.
Parliamentary Inquiry and Legislative Progress
This clarification follows a response published on Friday on the website of the Assembly of the People’s Representatives (ARP). It addresses inquiries from parliamentarians Mohamed Majdi and Nour Jreidi, who raised concerns about “blockages” and “opacity bordering on deliberate suspicion of corruption” in the regularization of substitute teachers.
Education Minister Noureddine Nouri stated during a parliamentary hearing last Wednesday that the ministry has made significant progress in regularizing the status of substitute teachers in public primary, middle, and high schools, in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. 21 of 2025.