Algeria’s Education Minister Mohamed Seghir Saadaoui announced on July 25 that English will be taught before French in primary schools for the 2026-2027 academic year. This decision places English as the main foreign language from the third year, replacing French which will be introduced in the fourth year.
The Program Shift
Since independence, French has dominated English classes, but President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s linguistic policy, launched in 2022, aims to introduce English from primary school. In 2024-2025, medical and science faculties have already begun switching from French to English. Road signs and Air Algérie tickets now feature English alongside Arabic.
Implementation Challenges
Ahmed Krim, a 30-year English teacher now retired at 60, stresses that schools still lack enough qualified teachers. In February, the Ministry of Education recruited about 15,000 English teachers for primary schools. Expert Rafik Laceb warns that the 2023-2024 university initiative suffered from insufficient contact hours and rigorous assessments.
Reactions and Implications
The decision comes amid a major diplomatic crisis between Algeria and France, triggered in July 2024 when President Emmanuel Macron supported Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara. Algeria expelled French diplomats, heightening tensions. In response, the country accelerated its withdrawal from Francophonie, with Algeria, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso leaving the OIF in March 2025.
Civil Society’s Role
Bookstore owner Krimo Taleb in Tizi Ouzou reports a rise in English book sales, especially among female readers. He says most young readers speak three languages fluently. Despite the rise in English, French remains the most influential foreign language, with about 15 million speakers in Algeria.
Conclusion
This linguistic reform marks a historic turning point, replacing the colonial language with a global one. It reflects both the political ambition of cultural independence and the challenges of a rapid transition in an already evolving education system.
