Autonomy plans go ahead, but lecturers strike

Tunisia’s universities council met to put final touches to a project concerning general principles and major plans for the future – while the university lecturers’ union called a one-day strike in protest against the ministry’s refusal to implement agreements signed nearly a year ago.

At its meeting in November the Conseil des Universités addressed several issues, particularly the progress of work on the reform of higher education and research and the university system, reported La Presse of Tunis.

The meeting was attended by all of the country’s university presidents as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and ICTs, including Minister Taoufik Jelassi.

Work was progressing according to schedule and the national commission in charge would shortly finalise its project concerned with general principles and major future plans.

These placed particular emphasis on university autonomy, and a recommendation had just been made to amend the order relating to conditions for converting the status of universities and scientific organisations, reported La Presse.

The university system figured for the first time in the programme for discussion in the Conseil des Universités, and members were given a report on the sector including the necessity to review services and develop them in line with institutions’ requirements.

The minister said he was keen to improve services and student living conditions in Tunis and in the regions. All measures should be taken to find solutions to the different problems and malfunctions that had been recorded.

Protests

Meanwhile, protests among secondary school teachers spread to higher education, where a day’s strike was called in all Tunisian universities.

The action followed the refusal of the ministry to implement agreements signed with unions 10 months previously, reported La Presse.

Houcine Bou Jerra, secretary general of the union representing higher education and research, said in an audio statement that unfulfilled commitments included unpaid bonuses, overdue sabbaticals and insufficient research facilities.

* This article is drawn from local media. University World News cannot vouch for the accuracy of the original reports.