The Algerian government's Haut Commissariat à l'Amazighité (HCA) has reaffirmed its commitment to consolidating the Tamazight language in the country's education and communication systems. According to HCA Secretary General Si El Hachemi Assad, the HCA aims to build on the progress made since 1995, when the process of generalizing Tamazight began. The HCA's efforts are focused on strengthening its role in promoting the language and culture.
The HCA's mission is to consolidate Amazighité as an integral dimension of Algeria's identity. To achieve this, the HCA plans to reinforce its missions and expand its staff with multidisciplinary expertise. A report on the HCA's efforts has been submitted to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. According to Assad, the HCA has made significant efforts to develop the Tamazight language, rehabilitate it as a language, culture, and heritage, and promote it in the country's institutions.
The HCA has implemented several initiatives to promote Tamazight, including the introduction of Tamazight language courses in schools and the development of adult education programs. In 2015, the HCA launched a program to train primary school teachers in Tamazight, with the first batch of 50 teachers graduating in 2019. The HCA has also collaborated with national institutions to develop a device for teaching and learning Tamazight for adults.
The Tamazight language program has been expanded to 25 wilayas across the country, in collaboration with the Association nationale d'alphabétisation "Iqraa" and the Office national d'alphabétisation et d'enseignement pour adultes. The program aims to enable Algerians to learn to read and write in Tamazight. Algeria has been recognized for its efforts in literacy and adult education, winning the UNESCO-Roi Sejong Prize in 2019.
The HCA's efforts have contributed to the recognition of Tamazight as an important part of Algeria's cultural heritage. The language has been inscribed on public buildings, including wilaya and daïra headquarters, and ministerial structures. The HCA has also worked to preserve Algeria's intangible cultural heritage, including the declaration of Yennayer, the Amazigh New Year, as a national holiday.
The HCA participates in the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN), which provides an opportunity for Tamazight to be integrated into the language policies of African countries. The HCA's efforts aim to promote the use of Tamazight in various fields, including education, communication, and culture. However, Assad noted that much work remains to be done to standardize the language and evaluate its teaching.
The HCA's work prioritizes collaboration with relevant ministries, particularly the Ministry of National Education, to address the challenges facing the teaching of Tamazight. The HCA aims to develop a plan for the generalization of Tamazight, which will require close collaboration with various stakeholders. The HCA's commitment to promoting Tamazight reflects the Algerian government's efforts to recognize and celebrate the country's cultural diversity.
Key points
- The Algerian government has reaffirmed its commitment to developing the Tamazight language.
- The HCA has implemented initiatives to promote Tamazight, including teacher training programs and adult education initiatives.
- Algeria has been recognized for its efforts in literacy and adult education, winning the UNESCO-Roi Sejong Prize in 2019.
