Algeria’s education system is undergoing a dramatic transformation, with a significant shift in priorities as Ahmed Krim, a retired English teacher, observed the nation’s preoccupation with French language dominance. On July 25, the Education Minister, Mohamed Seghir Saadaoui, announced that English will become the sole foreign language taught in the third year of primary school, effectively replacing French as the primary language of instruction across the country. This decision, coming amid a heightened diplomatic crisis between Algeria and France, represents a fundamental restructuring of the nation’s educational landscape, a move driven by a deliberate policy overhaul initiated in 2022. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune first outlined this plan in 2022, introducing English as a foreign language to primary schools, and the implementation of this policy has now accelerated, with eight-year-olds across Algeria becoming the first to learn English before French.
From next month, eight-year-olds will be the first to receive English instruction, a shift unprecedented in Algerian education. ‘It’s a very good decision,’ Krim told Al Jazeera, acknowledging the considerable challenges ahead. The shift is not merely a change in language; it’s a deliberate effort to re-evaluate the entire education system, spearheaded by the government’s linguistic overhaul. The rationale behind this shift stems from a desire to ‘think, plan, and resources,’ as Krim emphasized. It’s a crucial step in the broader strategy of Tebboune’s plan, which aims to overhaul the entire education system, with the goal of establishing a ‘qualified body that includes both linguistic and pedagogical expertise, free from all ideology.’
The French language, historically a cornerstone of Algerian identity, has been steadily diminished in the country’s utility bills, Air Algerie tickets, and government websites, alongside a growing emphasis on Arabic and Islam. The French language has been relegated to a secondary position in some areas, particularly in the late 1990s, partly due to an ideological perception of unity prioritizing linguistic and cultural harmony.
The transition from French to English has been met with considerable concern. The most serious diplomatic crisis between Algeria and France since its independence in 1962 has intensified the pressure on the two nations. In July 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron publicly supported Morocco’s sovereignty claim over Western Sahara, and Algeria viewed that as a provocation. Algeria expelled French diplomats, and vice versa, fueling a sense of political tension.
The shift from French to English accelerated after the diplomatic crisis escalated. A recent report by Noureddine Bessadi reveals that there are currently insufficient teachers to fulfill the planned programme. However, the government has indicated that contractors could be employed to fill the gaps. The university experiment in 2023-2024 yielded minimal results, with insufficient contact hours, inadequate assessment, and a lack of tracking progress. Around 50% of teaching at Tizi Ouzou’s English department is by younger contract staff, raising concerns about quality control.
Krim, a bookseller at the Libre Pensee bookshop in Tizi Ouzou, is cautiously optimistic about the primary school reform, but recognizes that the shift to English is happening faster than the system can keep up. He notes that there is not a single newspaper published in English and written in English by Algerians remains in its infancy.
The government is also looking to recruit 15,000 English language teachers for primary schools, and the university experiment has been deemed insufficient. The shift is a significant step, but the success of the reforms will depend on the government’s willingness to allocate the necessary resources and transparency.”
The shift is not merely a change in language; it’s a fundamental restructuring of the nation’s educational system, reflecting a deliberate attempt to re-evaluate the entire education landscape and address a growing political tension.
Source: Al Jazeera
