Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Youcef Belmehdi, presided over the closing ceremony of the 2025-2026 training year for the National Specialized Institutes.
Algeria religious training graduates
During his address, Minister Belmehdi emphasized the significance President Abdelmadjid Tebboune places on the training sector and the special attention given to the training system within the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments. He highlighted this system as a fundamental pillar in preparing competent professionals capable of fulfilling their religious and national missions.
The Minister also underscored that training programs are periodically reviewed and updated to align with contemporary transformations and current needs, while preserving the constants of the national religious reference. This ensures that the education remains relevant and rooted in Algerian religious identity.
This year, the National Specialized Institutes celebrated the graduation of 705 students. This cohort included 405 imams and preachers, and 300 teachers of the Quran, comprising 168 male teachers and 132 female teachers. Notably, 12 students from brotherly African nations also graduated, underscoring Algeria's role in regional religious education.
Belmehdi stated that these graduates represent a vital force in guiding the community's religious life, reinforcing the values of moderation and tolerance, and disseminating sound religious culture. He stressed the importance of bolstering intellectual security and safeguarding society from various intellectual and cultural challenges, all within the framework of the national religious reference.
The current training season has yielded encouraging results, with top-performing students achieving scores between 16.50 and 18.70 out of 20. This success reflects the quality of pedagogical guidance and the dedicated efforts of the training staff. Furthermore, the training process was enhanced through thirteen specialized remote lectures delivered by esteemed scholars and specialists.
In terms of continuous professional development, over 4,000 ministry employees participated in enhancement programs during 2025. Projections indicate that more than 4,600 employees will undergo training in 2026, demonstrating a commitment to advancing professional competencies and elevating the standard of public service.
Looking ahead, the Minister revealed promising prospects for strengthening international cooperation in religious training, particularly with Sahelian African countries. Joint training programs and projects are envisioned to promote the culture of moderation and tolerance and to advance sound religious discourse.
In his guidance to the graduating students, Minister Belmehdi urged them to remember the profound significance of their mission, to embody knowledge, wisdom, and dignity, and to serve as exemplary role models in their interactions with society. This, he noted, will foster social cohesion and serve the nation's interests.
He concluded by commending the dedication of the pedagogical and administrative staff across the institutes, celebrating the positive outcomes achieved. He affirmed the ministry's continued commitment to making training a strategic priority for enhancing professional performance and strengthening the role of religious institutions in serving society and advancing national development.
Related topics: Algeria religious affairs training, Yousef Belmehdi, Imam training Algeria, Quran teacher education, Religious diplomacy Africa, Algeria education
DZWatch provides English-language coverage of Algeria-focused developments for international readers.
