Transforming Early Education in Tunisia: PREFAT’s Impact on Access, Quality, and Innovation

Launched in 2018, the Strengthening Foundations for Learning Project (Projet de Renforcement des Fondations pour l'Apprentissage en Tunisie / PREFAT) implemented by the Ministry of Education and supported by the World Bank helped improve learning conditions in public preschools and primary schools while increasing access to public preschool education in 31 localities across 12 lagging regions. Through a combination of improving teaching and learning environment through infrastructure upgrades, teacher training, digital tools, and learning assessments, PREFAT is setting the foundations for better education for Tunisia's children.

From the outset, the World Bank has stood by Tunisia, with the first education investment approved in 1963 to strengthen Tunisia's education system. Over the years, the Bank has continued to support the government in increasing access and quality across the entire education continuum.

EXPANDING PRESCHOOL EDUCATION

PREFAT has been instrumental in expanding access to preschool education, especially in underserved areas. For the 2024-2025 school year, 9,429 children were enrolled in public preschools across PREFAT-targeted districts, including 4,644 girls and 4,785 boys.

PREFAT has built around 100 new preschool classrooms in lagging regions. It has also invested in child-friendly infrastructure and equipment to enhance preschool learning environments, including new learning materials, playgrounds, basketball backboards, and gym mats, fostering a safe and engaging space for active play and early development.

According to Ameni Hasni, a teacher in Henchir Haj Saad, a rural area in the Kasserine's governorate: "Preschool education now thrives in a well-equipped, colorful classroom that fosters a psychological state conducive to effective learning. Such environments engage children and support their social and emotional development, laying a strong foundation for future academic success."

To improve educational quality, PREFAT has trained more than 2,000 preschool teachers in innovative methods, including theatrical activities, and contributed to the development of Early Childhood Education Quality Assurance tools.

"There's a clear difference between children who attended preschool and those who didn't-in their behavior, interactions with peers, and even posture in the classroom," noted Salma Meyel, a teacher in Zagtoun, Zaghouan.

IMPROVING LEARNING CONDITIONS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

PREFAT has renovated around 80 schools in the more lagging regions. New preschool classrooms were built, upgrading classrooms, playgrounds, and sanitary facilities. In addition, 2,500 primary school classrooms received new furniture, and 1,600+ computer labs were equipped to integrate digital tools into learning.

From 2019 to 2025, 55,000+ teachers, 4,000+ principals, and most inspectors and pedagogical assistants received training in different areas, including life skills, pedagogy, didactics, and school management.

"The new classrooms and playgrounds have transformed how my child feels about school," says Sihem Boukhili, a parent from Hedhil, Jendouba. "He is now enthusiastic about learning and enjoys every moment at school. He doesn't want to come home anymore!"

These upgrades and training have significantly improved educational quality in disadvantaged regions, creating more inclusive and engaging learning environments.

STRENGTHENING EDUCATION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

PREFAT has modernized primary education governance by launching Tarbia.tn, a unified digital portal that provides comprehensive services for students, parents, teachers, and administrative staff, increasing efficiency and accessibility.

PREFAT has also supported standardized assessments, such as EGRA (Early Grade Reading Assessment) and EGMA (Early Grade Mathematics Assessment), to assess and better understand learning outcomes, leading the way to data-driven public policies.

The first EGRA assessment in 2021, testing 1,200 children in Arabic and 1,200 in French, helped identify reading gaps and inform targeted improvement actions.. A second EGRA assessment was implemented in December 2025, and the collected data are currently being processed to monitor progress.

The 2023 EGMA assessment tested 1,510 children across 151 schools, identifying key numeracy challenges and informing interventions to address these gaps.

LOOKING AHEAD

As Tunisia continue to pave the way for quality and inclusive education, PREFAT stands as a testament to what dedicated partnership, innovation, and perseverance can achieve. Indeed, despite disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and institutional transitions, PREFAT benefited 900,000+ students across Tunisia, with girls accounting for more than 50% of beneficiaries.

The foundation laid by this project is helping children to learn, teachers to inspire, and communities to dream bigger. By integrating infrastructure upgrades, teacher training, equipment provision, and learning assessments, PREFAT has delivered measurable results and represents a major milestone in Tunisia's journey toward quality, inclusive education for all children. The journey is far from over, but the path is brighter than ever.