Algiers – The Algerian Ministry of Education has announced a temporary halt to the accreditation of new private schools across the country. Minister of National Education, Mohamed Sghir Seddaoui, addressed the issue, emphasizing the strategic importance of public education in Algeria.
Minister Seddaoui explained that the education sector has continually expanded since independence, driven by demographic growth and increasing demand for schooling. The national education system annually welcomes over one million new students, including approximately 1.028 million in the first grade. This influx, coupled with the departure of around 550,000 students yearly through graduation or vocational training, results in a net increase of 500,000 to 550,000 students each year.
This substantial expansion presents ongoing challenges related to providing adequate educational and administrative staff, logistical resources, transportation, and school meals. In response to these pressures, the government opened the door to private educational institutions in 2004 and 2005, contingent upon strict adherence to the official curriculum established by the Ministry of National Education.
Minister Seddaoui stated that between 2005 and 2022, private schools operated under specific guidelines. However, reports submitted to the Prime Minister’s office in 2022 revealed instances of these institutions engaging in activities inconsistent with their core educational mission and failing to adhere to the official curriculum. These reports triggered a comprehensive review of the private education sector.
Following the review, a committee was formed to assess the situation of private education. Its recommendations led to the temporary suspension of new private school accreditations. The focus will now be on managing existing institutions and refraining from granting additional accreditations during this period.
The committee has prepared a new set of specifications which has been submitted to the General Secretariat of the Government. Minister Seddaoui stressed that this measure aligns with the President’s directives to steer private education towards specializations that are needed in the educational system.
