Health & Education

Health care has been a national priority for the Tunisian government since the country gained independence from France in 1956. A focus of continued investment, the health care sector has since seen the development of a nationwide network of public hospitals and health centres, with the country quickly becoming a model in North Africa. The combination of private sector investment and public sector reforms positions the sector for continued growth. In recent years, private health care has taken the lead in terms of investment, with the construction of a number of new health clinics. This development is set to help the country to solidify its position as a regional medical tourism destination. In the decades following independence, Tunisia was among the countries with the highest investment in education in the region. This enabled it to introduce important legal changes, such as compulsory basic education, which led to high enrolment and literacy rates. However, in the face of deteriorating quality standards and high unemployment rates among young graduates, authorities are now looking to overhaul the education and vocational training system with a series of upcoming reform measures that could significantly reshape the face of Tunisia’s education system in the coming years.

This chapter contains an interview with Tahar Ben Lakhdar, Co-founder and CEO, Esprit.