Changes to Private Universities Law Aim to Improve Quality
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Loading... - Sophie Bakker
- 02 Aug 2024
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Tunisia is currently working on amendments to the existing Private University Act of 2000 to ensure the law fits the needs of the academic environment as well as improving education quality and governance. These changes aim to elevate the standards of private higher education institutions in the country.
The final version of draft amendments to Law No 73 of 2000 on private higher education was examined at a 5 April meeting held at the headquarters of the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The amendments were presented by a Tunisian liberal front in the country’s parliament.
Objectives of the Amendments
- Improving Quality: The amendments aim to improve the quality of private higher education institutions by giving staff professional and social status.
- Reducing Unemployment: It is envisaged that the move will help to reduce the unemployment of doctoral holders in the country.
- Teaching Staff Requirements: Private higher education institutions must have at least 30% permanent teaching staff with a PhD degree and must include all specialties and fields.
- Teaching Standards: Permanent teachers must provide at least half of the lessons offered under each degree awarded by the institution.
- Parallels with Public Institutions: The framework for teaching in private institutions must be similar to the regulations for teachers in public institutions regarding the minimum wage, number of teaching hours, and supervision.
Current Private-Sector Landscape
The amendments have been welcomed by academics. Béchir Allouch, a technology professor at the Virtual University of Tunis, emphasized the need for these changes given the significant developments in the private sector higher education institutions over nearly a quarter of a century. The private sector now occupies a relatively large place in the higher education landscape of Tunisia.
Statistics:
- Number of Institutions: In 2022-23, there were 80 private higher education institutions with 44,988 students, making up 14.7% of all students in Tunisia.
- Foreign Students: 56.4% of foreign students were enrolled in the private sector in 2022-23.
- Graduates: The percentage of private-sector graduates in relation to the total graduates in Tunisia almost tripled between 2012-13 and 2021-22: from 6.52% to 18%.
Challenges and Solutions
1. Unfair Competition: One criticism of the private sector has been the small proportion of permanent teachers, forcing institutions to rely heavily on public-sector teachers working on a temporary basis. This amendment aims to address this issue by imposing a minimum proportion of permanent teachers for each private university.
2. Not-for-Profit Institutions: The current regulatory framework does not cover not-for-profit universities. The amendments may address this gap, allowing for better regulation and organization of these institutions.
3. Oversight: Ensuring compliance with the specifications governing the private higher education sector is a significant challenge. The ministry of higher education's capacity to oversee the private sector remains limited, and strengthening this capacity is necessary to improve competition and preserve the quality of diplomas awarded in Tunisia.
The proposed amendments to Tunisia's Private University Act aim to elevate the quality and governance of private higher education institutions. By addressing issues such as the proportion of permanent teaching staff, regulatory frameworks for not-for-profit institutions, and oversight capacities, these changes are expected to enhance the overall academic environment in Tunisia. The amendments are a crucial step towards ensuring that private higher education institutions contribute effectively to the country's educational and economic development.
