Tunisian-Italian cooperation: sixty tractors, agricultural equipment to supply schools with drinking water

Sixty tractors to transport foodstuffs and other agricultural equipment to supply schools with drinking water were handed over as part of Tunisian-Italian cooperation at a ceremony held Monday at the central warehouse of the Education Ministry.

This project fits within the Balance of Päyments Support Programme which is at the core of a cooperation agreement signed by Tunisia and Italy in 2008 after the ratification of a memorandum of understanding for the second phase of the programme, pursuant to law n° 35 of 2017.

Ambassador of Italy to Tunisia Lorenzo Fanara told reporters his country is Tunisia’s first partner in the field of education as testify to that the diverse cooperation programmes in place. This sector, he added, is of paramount importance in achieving integration and social security and building skills.

“This project scales up cooperation between the two countries in environment and fight against school dropout, particularly in rural and remote areas ” Fanara further said.

Minister of Education Fathi Slaouti said the ministry is endeavouring to secure regular water supply for 1,415 schools in rural areas out of a total of 2,416.

Partnership programmes with the Ministry of Agriculture, civil society and enterprises targeted over 950 schools over the last years to meet drinking water needs.

(TAP)