Tension has been escalating between the Ministry of Education and education unions, especially since unions have threatened to boycott the return to schools. But Minister of Education Neji Jalloul believes that solutions with the unions are possible.

A university professor of civilization and Islamic heritage, Jalloul is a member of the Nidaa Tunis movement, the party heading the current coalition government.

Jalloul spoke to Correspondents about his educational reform program and his relationship with the education unions and their demands.

Tension has been escalating between the Ministry of Education and education unions, especially since unions have threatened to boycott the return to schools. But Minister of Education Neji Jalloul believes that solutions with the unions are possible.

A university professor of civilization and Islamic heritage, Jalloul is a member of the Nidaa Tunis movement, the party heading the current coalition government.

Jalloul spoke to Correspondents about his educational reform program and his relationship with the education unions and their demands.

Minister Jalloul, what are the main identified features of educational reforms?

We have not yet profiled the reform features, but the goals we are working to achieve are clear. There are achievable educational reforms during the upcoming year and other reforms due to be achieved in the long run.

Could you provide us with an idea about your goals?

We are planning to build Tunisian generations that are deeply rooted in Arab, Islamic and Mediterranean identity. They must believe strongly in the sanctity of the nation and be proud to hoist the red and white Tunisian flag, instead of carrying the Takfiri (apostate) black flag.

We will endeavor in the near future to create a well-balanced generation. We will therefore revive cultural and sports clubs in schools and colleges. We also seek to restore the status of education in Tunisia and prevent its exit from global and regional quality education classification. We do not want the Tunisian universities to come at the end of the recognized educational institutions or exit the list in the future.

Such are the reforms we aim to achieve in cooperation with the ministries of higher education and employment and social affairs. Our aim is to provide human resources the opportunity to access the labor market and tackle the problem of unemployment, where thousands of university graduates are still out of work since the labor market’s needs are not commensurate with their educational qualifications.

Have you involved other stakeholders in the educational reform process?

There is an agreement with all stakeholders concerned with the educational process regarding these reforms. We have initiated a national dialogue about reforming the educational system. We listened to all the stakeholders without exception. The ad hoc committees set up to deal with the various issues are in the process of preparing their reports. The final reports will be presented to the national dialogue for a consensus on reforming the educational system.

Have the education unions participated in the educational reform process?

Certainly, there are committees in which the education unions are involved. They contribute to their education reform action. We have even invited the unions to participate in the ‘School Month’ event organized by the ministry to consider the needs of the schools and contribute to their restoration works. These unions responded positively to our invitation. There is only one outstanding problem with the primary education union, which is affiliated with the General Union for Tunisian Employment (UGTT) concerning the grants issue. This issue is being negotiated between the cabinet and UGTT and is expected to be resolved in the near future in the framework of the ongoing negotiations.

What are the reforms expected to be launched in the upcoming school year?

There are reforms due to be launched during the upcoming school year especially those concerned with school timings, examination system reform, review of some teaching materials and private tuition regulations.

Curriculum reform, on the other hand, cannot be applied in the upcoming school year and has therefore been postponed until the next year. There are committees that are currently engaged in reviewing the present curricula and teacher training. Consequently, the major structural reforms will be launched early next year.

There are schools in urgent need of restoration. How will you tackle this issue?

We have embarked on a massive plan to renovate the existing schools, considering that there are educational institutions that have been awaiting restoration since the 1960s, in addition to some dilapidated walls and ceilings that are in urgent need for repair due to rain.

Some schools are in miserable condition. There are 4000 schools in urgent need of repair, and students have the right to study in a decent environment. Therefore, we organized a campaign to repair and clean these schools. Entrepreneurs, artists, sports associations and other groups contributed to this effort. I am extremely happy that schools are at the core of Tunisians’ interests, due to their awareness of terrorism and crime.

Your relationship with education unions has been strained. What is the reason?

First, let us agree that the roof of educators’ demands is not high. It is no secret that teachers are not paid high salaries. A teacher earns about TND 800 only ( US $600) and is required to spend long working hours and perform stressful tasks.

We have not objected to the material demands made by the education unions since we are aware that teachers do not enjoy housing privileges or a deserving social status. We have also not objected to the teachers’ demand for a two-year grant and this issue is under discussion by the cabinet. We believe that it would be more appropriate to resolve such disputes and demands through negotiation rather than by escalations and strikes.

We have discussed with the unions what the ministry can offer within its budgetary limits and potentials. We are not fighting a battle in which there are winners and losers and we do not seek to escalate tension with the education unions. I have indeed been saddened by the escalation from the primary education union and for not reaching a solution with it. I appeal to this union to understand the situation our country has been through and have little patience at this stage.

If the union demands are reasonable, why do not you respond to these demands?

The agreement between the government and UGTT to increase the pay of public sector employees was signed a few months ago and the Ministry of Education is not responsible for the pay increase. The remaining dispute with the primary education union is about the grant currently in the cabinet. Thus, the genuine dispute is not with the education ministry.

We have settled most of the outstanding points of contention with the union of primary education and there are working sessions on transport. As I have already explained, the education unions are affiliated with the educational reform committees.

There is talk about a forthcoming cabinet reshuffle. Will you be targeted in that reshuffle in light of the criticism directed against you by some education unions?

It is the right of the prime minister to change any portfolio within his cabinet and to appoint persons whom he deems appropriate and can best serve the interests of the ministry. Neji Jalloul, like any other minister, can be replaced.

Are there certain parties within the present government coalition that work to exclude you due to your support of secularism and modernity and having a community project different from theirs?

I am not biased to secularism, but to modernity, and I am playing an active role within a modern party that has its own religious discourse.

Nidaa Tunis party is not a secular party but a moderate party that has a modern religious approach. I do not believe there are parties that want to remove me from the ruling coalition. To be frank, Ennahda Movement does not want to exclude me from the government. On the contrary, they have fully supported me and some of its Shura Council members visited me on two occasions. Perhaps, the prime minister may decide to replace me and if he does, it will be for pure technical reasons not ideological ones.