Ahmed Krim dedicated 30 years of his life to teaching English in Algeria’s middle schools. Now retired, the 60-year-old educator reflects on the enduring prominence of French as the de facto second language in the country, a legacy of its colonial history. Despite Algeria gaining independence over six decades ago, French continues to dominate everyday communication, a reality noted by many within the nation.
On July 25, Algeria’s Education Minister, Mohamed Seghir Saadaoui, announced a significant policy shift: beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, English will become the exclusive foreign language taught in the third year of primary school, effectively relegating French to the fourth year. This landmark decision represents a pivotal move in President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s broader linguistic reform agenda, first introduced in 2022, aimed at incorporating English across various educational levels, including medicine and science faculties.
The recent educational reforms are accompanied by tangible changes in public life. For instance, some utility bills and Air Algerie tickets have already dropped French in favor of English, and road signs are increasingly being displayed in English alongside Arabic. This linguistic transformation occurs at a time of heightened diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France, fueled in part by French President Emmanuel Macron’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty claims over Western Sahara, which Algeria supports through the Sahrawi Polisario Front.
While these reforms have been met with enthusiasm, particularly by educators like Krim, who believes that they are crucial for the nation’s future, he also emphasizes the need for strategic planning and resource allocation. He advocates for the revival of specialized training centers for teachers to ensure that educational policies are informed by both linguistic and pedagogical expertise free from ideological constraints.
Journalist Noureddine Bessadi adds that the historical context is essential; Algeria’s post-independence Arabisation efforts were part of a broader state-building initiative centered around its Arabic and Islamic identity, while the marginalization of the Tamazight language highlights the complexities of language politics within the country.
Despite challenges such as a potential shortage of qualified English teachers, the education ministry reported a recruitment drive that brought in approximately 15,000 English language instructors for primary schools. Skepticism remains among some educators regarding the feasibility of implementing English as the language of instruction across higher education, especially as many newly recruited teachers are inexperienced.
Parents express optimism about the reforms. Djamel Merah, who witnessed his daughter benefit from a multilingual education, sees the government’s initiative as an opportunity to bridge the educational gap between those attending private and public schools. Many in Algeria’s younger generation are already embracing English, as evidenced by a growing market for English-language literature in local bookshops, indicating a cultural shift favoring linguistic diversity.
While French still holds sway, with approximately 15 million speakers among Algeria’s population, there is a prevailing sentiment that a new era of linguistic identity is emerging. The country’s efforts reflect a broader trend across former French colonies, where there is a growing reassessment of historically entrenched linguistic legacies.
For many, Algeria’s ambitious linguistic reforms are seen as a necessary evolution, provided they are backed by the requisite resources and a commitment to effective implementation, which could ultimately empower a new generation of multilingual individuals ready to navigate a globalized world.
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