Madar (Tunis) - Tunisian Education Minister Noureddine Nouri presented his ministry's 2027 budget on Friday, November 6, 2026, at a joint meeting of the education committee of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People and the development and social services committee of the National Council of Regions and Districts. It stands at 9,184 million dinars, against 8,700 million in 2026, according to the daily La Presse.
According to the same source, the education budget thus exceeds 9 billion dinars for the first time, up about 484.5 million dinars, or 5.56%. It accounts for about 13.3% of the 2027 state budget, estimated at 68.9 billion dinars, and has grown by 41% between 2020 and 2027.
Pay accounts for nearly 90% of the ministry's budget. The ministry has 215,503 staff, including 4,588 seconded under technical cooperation, and three quarters of them work in teaching. The wage bill rises by more than 585 million dinars in 2027, including 348 million for pay rises and 150 million for 5,855 planned recruitments.
The preparatory and secondary programme receives about 4,898 million dinars and primary education 3,437 million, with priority given to extending the preparatory year. The start of the school year accounts for 485.5 million dinars, while 410 million is earmarked for school building works and maintenance, 70 million less than in 2026.
At the next school year, Tunisia will have 4,604 primary schools, up from 4,596, and about 1,576 middle and secondary schools for 1,146,109 pupils. Nine new schools will open: six middle schools and three secondary schools, in Nabeul, Beja and Bizerte. The "second chance" programme against dropping out continues, with a new branch in Mahdia governorate.
The minister acknowledged difficulties including overcrowded classes, regional disparities and teacher shortages in some subjects, saying the ministry would keep addressing them by modernising infrastructure and assessment tools, La Presse reported.
