DZWatch has learned that the Ministry of National Education has temporarily suspended the approval of new private schools. This decision follows reports of pedagogical irregularities and deviations from the national curriculum in some existing private institutions.
Minister of National Education, Mohamed Seghir Sadawi, addressed members of the Council of the Nation, emphasizing that education remains a public service guaranteed by the state since independence. He highlighted the significant and continuous expansion of the education sector due to demographic growth and increased demand for schooling.
The Minister explained that the education system welcomes over a million new students annually, with approximately 1.028 million entering the first grade. However, the number of students leaving the system, either through baccalaureate success or vocational training, is around 550,000 per year. This results in a net increase of 500,000 to 550,000 students each year.
This expansion necessitates substantial additional resources, including educational and administrative staff, logistical support, and school transportation and catering services. In 2004 and 2005, the government recognized the need to allow the private sector to establish educational institutions, provided they fully adhere to the official curriculum set by the Ministry of National Education.
A specific set of conditions was established for private schools, implemented between 2005 and 2022. However, reports submitted to the Prime Minister’s office in 2022 revealed that some institutions were straying from their core mission of adhering to the official curriculum.
Following on-site inspections, a committee was formed to assess the situation of private schools. The committee recommended a temporary halt to the establishment of new private educational institutions until its work is completed. During this period, existing institutions will continue to operate, but no new approvals will be granted.
The Minister disclosed that the committee has prepared a revised set of conditions, which has been submitted to the General Secretariat of the Government. This initiative aligns with the President’s directives to guide private schools towards specializations where the education system requires greater support and reinforcement.
Currently, there are 628 private educational institutions accredited by the Ministry of National Education, operating under the previous set of conditions and spread across 38 provinces. Minister Sadawi confirmed that these institutions have submitted requests…
