Algeria's education sector is addressing a shortage of teachers by recruiting candidates from waiting lists. The move aims to ensure that schools have sufficient staff to provide quality education. Several education authorities have begun contacting candidates on the waiting lists for the 2025 teacher recruitment competition. This competition was for positions at all three educational levels, from primary to secondary.
The need for recruitment arose due to a significant number of vacant positions. Some successful candidates chose not to take up their appointments, while others retired or left their jobs. To fill these gaps, local education authorities are relying on a 2013 instruction that governs the use of waiting lists. Candidates on these lists are being invited to choose their preferred school based on actual needs.
The recruitment process involves a digital platform that allows candidates to select their preferred school online. This system aims to ensure a merit-based ranking and equal treatment for all applicants. Candidates who are appointed will either be classified as trainees or contract workers, depending on the status of the position they are filling.
The status of the position determines whether a candidate is employed as a trainee or a contract worker. If a position is permanently vacant and a candidate's qualifications match the required grade, they will be employed as a trainee. However, if the position has not been formally vacated, a temporary contract will be offered.
In some regions, waiting lists have been exhausted for specific specialties. In these cases, education authorities are accepting applications from holders of bachelor's, master's, and magister degrees for contract positions. This approach is part of a broader effort to recruit 64,000 new teachers for the current school year.
The UNPEF, a union representing education personnel, has expressed concerns about the recruitment process. While the union acknowledges the need to avoid disrupting students' education, it notes that there are inconsistencies in the way different local education authorities are managing the process.
The union's concerns include a lack of accurate statistics on vacant positions and inadequate medium-term planning for human resources at the local level. Despite these challenges, the education ministry is pressing ahead with the recruitment drive to ensure that schools have the staff they need to function effectively.
Key points
- Algeria's education ministry is recruiting 64,000 new teachers to address shortages.
- The recruitment process involves candidates from waiting lists and direct applications from holders of relevant degrees.
- The UNPEF has expressed concerns about inconsistencies in the recruitment process.
