A total of 38 students at the Rouhia Preparatory School in Tunisia's Silyana Governorate are facing significant challenges that threaten to disrupt their academic journey. These students, aged between 12 and 14, travel considerable distances to attend school, with some journeys reaching up to 70 kilometers round trip. The lack of school transportation and accommodation options exacerbates their situation.
The region lacks school buses, and rural transportation services cease operations by midday, forcing some students to wait by the roadside and occasionally rely on cargo trucks to reach school or return home. This situation is further complicated by the presence of two large valleys, which, during rainfall, can lead to road closures and isolation due to flooding.
The school's dormitory, which could provide relief, remains closed due to maintenance issues, including water leaks. This means that students, particularly those in their ninth year of basic education, are deprived of the opportunity to stay at the dormitory. Local representative Laïd Lousif highlighted these challenges, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.
Lousif called upon the Ministry of Education, the Regional Education Office in Silyana, and the Governor of the region to take immediate action. This could involve either swiftly repairing the dormitory to make it operational or providing a regular school bus service to ensure the students' safety and continuity in their studies.
The situation underscores the difficulties faced by students in remote areas of Tunisia, where infrastructure and logistical challenges can significantly impact educational outcomes. The absence of adequate transportation and accommodation solutions hampers the ability of students to attend school regularly, potentially affecting their academic performance and future opportunities.
Efforts to address these issues could have a positive impact on the educational experience of students in Rouhia and similar regions. Ensuring that students have access to reliable transportation and suitable living conditions, where necessary, is crucial for their academic success and overall well-being.
The local community and educational authorities are awaiting a resolution to this crisis, which would enable the students of Rouhia to focus on their studies without the added burden of transportation and accommodation challenges. The intervention of the relevant authorities is seen as a critical step towards resolving this situation and ensuring that the students can continue their education without interruption.
Key points
- The students travel up to 70 kilometers daily due to lack of school transportation.
- The school dormitory is closed due to maintenance issues, leaving students without accommodation options.
- Local authorities have called for urgent intervention to address the transportation and accommodation crisis.
