The Algerian Communication Minister, Mohammed Laâgab, affirmed the prohibition of teaching the French curriculum in private schools across the country.
“Private schools are subjected to Algerian law, and are obliged to teach the Algerian curriculum,” Laâgab insisted during a seminar orchestrated by the Communication Ministry.
In previous years, some private school owners opted for foreign curricula, perhaps diminishing the state’s prestige, as reported by the Arab World News Agency.
Laâgab spotlighted, “The loss of state prestige in past years enabled owners of some private schools to impose foreign educational programs.”
Nonetheless, he affirmed that foreign languages, which are now additionally enriched with English, remain present and are perceived as valuable assets in Algerian schools.
This edict from the Ministry of National Education became operative at the commencement of the new academic year last month.
It notably included the introduction of English language teaching in primary education, harmonizing with Algeria’s recent inclination towards popularizing English education nationwide and reducing the hours dedicated to teaching the French language, which has historically dominated the Algerian educational scene.
In a joint seminar with ministers from various sectors, National Education Minister, Abdelhakim Belaabed, expressed that the ministry “summoned the concerned schools, informing them of the necessity to adopt the national curriculum.” He elaborated.
“Within the framework of the scrutiny habituated by the General Inspectorate of the Education sector, it became apparent that some private schools adopt the French curriculum.”
“The curricula adopted by the Ministry of Education originate from the culture and history of the Algerian society and cannot be desecrated with the culture of another country.”
The pivot towards an Algerian-centric educational approach poses critical reflections on the nation’s trajectory in preserving and nurturing its cultural and historical identity through educational systems, especially amidst the globalization of foreign curricula.
