Magharebia

Results in Tunisia's baccalaureate examinations continue to improve, with this year's candidates outperforming those from 2006, which had been considered one of the strongest years in the history of the examination with an overall pass rate of 62.87% in state schools and 48.1% in the first round of examinations.

In the run-up to the second round, known as the "controle", and in order not to distort the results, Tunisia makes a distinction between the results in state and private schools. Pass rates are always very low in private schools where this year it was 13.57%, with a total of 3,651 candidates out of 29,652 obtaining passing grades. The overall pass rate in state schools was 48.83% in the first round, with a total of 53,360 out of 110,380 candidates passing. In all, 57,020 candidates for the various types of baccalaureate will re-test from June 26-30, with the final results to be announced on July 8th.

As usual, sports baccalaureates once again saw the highest percentage of passes – 91.12%, with 390 of 428 candidates passing - and just like last year, mathematics baccalaureates saw the second-highest pass rate with 12,859 out of 20,022 (64.22%) candidates making the grade.

Experimental science baccalaureates once again came third in terms of pass rates, with 12,077 out of 23,994 (50.33%) candidates achieving success. Baccalaureates in economics and management made a leap forward from last to fourth place this year, with 9,472 (47.04%) of 20,136 candidates passing. This was at the expense of technical and arts baccalaureates, which each dropped a place in the rankings. Baccalaureates in technical subjects saw the fifth-highest pass rate (43.15%, 6,821 passes out of 15,807), while those in arts subjects came bottom with 11,741 (40.65%) of 28,879 candidates passing.

Although the ministry has yet to publish figures on the number of passes with distinction and information comparing the relative success of boys and girls, it seems clear from the results of the main round of examinations that the pass rate is well above that of last year.

One crucial factor which has contributed to the constantly rising pass rates is the overhaul of Tunisia's education system, including a decision to base 25% of the score on the student's grades from throughout their schooling. The goal of this change is to prevent unpleasant last-minute surprises for hard-working students.

In Tunisia it is now more difficult to fail baccalaureate examinations than to pass them at the first attempt. The Ministry of Education and Training has issued a reminder to candidates that the repeat examinations for each type of baccalaureate will include questions on a number of different subjects. Candidates can answer questions on all or just some of them as they wish, without having to declare their focus in advance. If their mark is worse the second time around, their first mark will be counted.