Parliament says no to charging tuition fees for expatriates

During the plenary session held on Sunday, December 1, 2024, the Parliament declined a controversial proposal to require university graduates who wish to work abroad to reimburse 50% of their education costs.

This proposal, intended to curb the brain drain, had sparked heated debate. The orders of doctors and engineers had voiced their opposition, deeming the measure unconstitutional, restrictive of freedoms, and counterproductive for the country. According to them, enforcing this provision would have long-term negative consequences.

The text proposed that graduates in medicine, engineering, and advanced technical specialities working abroad reimburse half of their university training costs within the first five years after graduation. This reimbursement was to be made in several annual instalments, according to a schedule agreed upon with the Ministry of Higher Education.

The rejection of this proposal ends a controversial project that had deeply divided the political class and professional bodies in Tunisia.”