Algeria ban on French curriculum 'part of cultural independence'
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The Algerian Education Ministry informs some 600 private schools that they are prohibited from following the French curriculum.
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Schoolchildren wait in line in a school courtyard in in the Ben Omar district of Algiers, Algeria, on Sept.19, 2023 (AP)
The Algerian government has officially prohibited the teaching of French curricula in approximately 600 private schools across the country. Algerian MPs have described this decision as a "sovereign move" that aligns with their vision for a "New Algeria."
The Algerian Ministry of Education sent notices to these private schools, instructing them that the use of the French curriculum is now "forbidden and must be abandoned immediately." This decision marks a significant shift away from French influence in Algeria's educational system, which has been deeply rooted since the country's independence in 1962.
This development comes amid continued tensions between Algeria and France, with issues related to historical memory and nuclear tests contributing to strained relations. France's reluctance to disclose its maps of Algeria and its refusal to hand over colonial-era archives to Algeria have further fueled these tensions.
In a bid to promote linguistic diversity and reduce the prominence of the French language, the Algerian government initiated the teaching of English in the early stages of education last year. French has traditionally served as the language of administration, business, and government agencies in Algeria, serving as a second official language in the country.
MPs argue that this decision is part of their broader vision for a "New Algeria," one that seeks to break free from the "cultural imperialism" imposed by France during its colonial rule. They view this move as a critical step towards asserting Algerian identity and preserving a unified cultural direction for the nation's youth.
Moussa Khafri, Deputy Speaker of the Algerian Parliament, emphasized that private educational institutions in Algeria were subject to the country's regulations, which require them to adhere to the Algerian curriculum rather than the French one. He underlined the role of school curricula in shaping the new generations, emphasizing that this measure aims to fully reclaim Algerian cultural identity.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is a key advocate for Algerian sovereignty and a major opponent of French influence as well as France's bids to maintain a foothold in his nation, let alone the African continent.
Tebboune said in December that France must set itself free from its "colonizer complex" for diplomatic relations to be reshaped between the two countries.
The relations between the two countries need -- in order to cool down -- France to liberate itself from its colonizer complex and Algeria from its colonized complex," Tebboune said at an interview with Le Figaro.
"We must take into account the 132 years of occupation because it did not start with the war of Independence. There are proven, archived, and documented facts, and we cannot hide the writings attest," said Tebboune.
He further called on the former colonial empire to "decontaminate" the test site where it conducted nuclear drills, adding that France must cover the medical expenses of people that were affected in the areas, namely Reggane and Tamanrasset.
