Bac results released in Tunisia

22/06/2009

The ministry of education released detailed statistics on test results, and presented a new version of the baccalaureate diploma that is more difficult to forge.

By Mona Yahia for Magharebia in Tunis – 22/06/09

[Mona Yahia] Tunisian Education Minister Hatem Ben Salem said students studying abroad can now have their bac diplomas translated immediately.

The results of the main round of baccalaureate exams in Tunisia were announced publicly on Sunday (June 21st). Students scored a 42.39% success rate this year, with 57,204 students passing; slightly less than the 49.62% of last year.

Students who registered for the SMS service provided by the ministry of education were able to get their results individually as early as Friday, per President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's request to use modern means of communication in the announcement of results.

More than 139,000 students sat the first round of the bac from June 3rd-10th. Of that total, 75,544 students were pushed back to the second and final round and 19,959 students failed altogether.

Female students performed better than males, with a 58.32% success rate, compared to 41.68%.

In a news conference on Friday, Minister of Education and Training Hatem Ben Salem said his ministry had detected 220 cases of cheating. To avoid a repeat of this number, he said, the ministry will organise campaigns next year to raise students' awareness of the risks of cheating and its potential effects on their educational and professional future.

Ben Salem also presented a new version of the baccalaureate certificate, which was printed on special paper to prevent forgery.

According to the education minister, students planning to continue their education abroad can have their bac certificates translated into English or French right away; unlike in previous years when students had to go through several channels to get it done, including the ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs as well as the embassies.

For the test-takers required to repeat the exams, re-testing is scheduled for June 23rd-26th.

For successful students and their families, it is time to celebrate.

"This is the result of hard work," said Montasser, a student in economics and management. "I got a rate of 13.69; second place at my school. Therefore, I'm thinking about completing my studies in the higher institute of commerce."

Amal, the mother of another student, was happy beyond words when her son succeeded. "This is the night I have been waiting for all my life," she said. "Now, we shall focus on the guidance, which is the future of my son."

It is also time to think about the future and choose wisely where to go from here, said Sayeda, a literary section student. "The most important thing now is to choose the best and most suitable direction based on my rate," she said, "because the employment market is difficult and there is no point in choosing divisions that won't lead to job possibilities, especially in the literary section."