Social movement in French schools in Tunisia: students taken hostage

The Director General of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) transmitted a message to parents of students in French Education Establishments Abroad (EGD) in Tunisia.

This message follows a recent change in the tax rate and the undertaking of withholding tax on income for local law personnel in Tunisia, required by the Tunisian authorities. French institutions did not desire to take charge of this withholding tax and deducted it from the earnings of Tunisian teachers.

These measures have triggered a major social movement within establishments, with major effects on students who are the main victims of this blocked situation.

Negotiations started on October 16 between staff representatives and the AEFE to define the conditions to support these new measures. No deal was reached and the teachers chose to maintain their strike scheduled for November 7, 8 and 9. This means that many students are seeing their teaching disrupted, raising legitimate concerns among parents.

The Director General of the AEFE understands the worries of parents regarding this situation which directly affects their children. The agency says it is operating actively to find a solution to this crisis, but it specifies that constructive negotiations can only take place if the threat of strike is lifted. The priority remains to ensure the continuity of teaching while minimizing the impact on students.

The AEFE wants the current negotiations not to compromise the “financial viability” of the establishments.

The most significant thing is that an agreement is reached and that staff and students can quickly resume their teaching, thus putting an end to their status as hostages of this complex situation.