One in three Tunisian students aged between 7 and 14 lacks basic reading skills, while three out of four are not proficient in mathematics, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative in Tunisia, Michel Le Pechoux. In an interview with TAP, Le Pechoux highlighted that the development of education is one of the most pressing issues in Tunisia, given the attention paid to it by families, society and the state. He affirmed that the UNICEF office in Tunisia is ready to work with the forthcoming Higher Council of Education in Tunisia. Le Pechoux pointed out that 28 per cent of students in the same age group cannot read and 75 per cent of all students lack basic skills in mathematics. The annual number of school drop-outs is between 60,000 and 100,000, while the number of drop-outs who have left the education system with no qualifications, no vocational training and facing unemployment is 30,000, or half of all drop-outs. Michel Le Pechoux added that only 4,000 students have benefit ed from the "Second Chance" programme launched by the Tunisian government and supported by UNICEF, which aims to streamline the reintegration of drop-outs into the education or vocational training system. He underlined that 12,000 students had received awareness-raising courses aimed at dissuading them from dropping out of school. He also said that UNICEF is working with the Ministries of Education, Labour, Vocational Training and Social Affairs, providing technical, financial and pedagogical support to launch the Second Chance School in the governorates of Kairouan and Gabes. Le Pechoux noted that UNICEF, a long-standing partner of Tunisia in the development of education, is supporting the launch of the Second Chance School programme in Bab El Khadra, Tunis. "The promotion of education goes beyond Tunisia and involves most countries.' He added that 'education levels in Tunisia have declined over the past two decades, despite significant investment.' UNICEF is working closely with the Tunisian government to set up more "second chance" school centres to take in those who have dropped out, provide them with training and "reduce the haemorrhage of school drop-outs", the UNICEF official said. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse