This year's back-to-school season in Algeria has been marked by a notable decrease in pressure on school supplies and textbooks. In several regions, families were able to make their purchases in relatively calm conditions, without the usual scenes of chaos and tension seen in previous years. The commercial spaces opened for the occasion in Algiers, Constantine, and several southern wilayas have recorded a significant influx of customers over the past few weeks, particularly during peak periods.
Despite the large number of families visiting the sales spaces, the situation in Algiers has not been synonymous with a general rush. Some points of sale have experienced peaks in attendance, especially during weekends and as the start of the school year approached, but overall attendance has remained relatively controlled. A similar observation was made in Constantine, where parents flocked to specialized commercial spaces to complete their children's supplies.
In the southern wilayas, where the availability and diversity of supplies can sometimes be a challenge due to the distance from certain supply circuits, sales spaces have also attracted a significant number of families. However, the attendance recorded did not lead to the strong pressure observed in some previous years. The relative availability of supplies has been a notable feature of this year's back-to-school season.
However, this relative availability does not concern all categories of supplies. Students and pupils in artistic fields, particularly those in the plastic arts department of the Ali Maâchi National Art School, face a different situation. In school supply stores, common items such as notebooks, pens, and folders are generally available. Nevertheless, paints, drawing paper, and sketchbooks are almost absent from many points of sale.
For students concerned about finding the necessary supplies for their training, the search becomes much more complicated. The problem lies not only in the availability of products but also in the often very limited choice of specific artistic materials. Families sometimes have to make multiple trips to find the products they are looking for or even turn to specialized shops when they exist.
The calm observed during this back-to-school season can be attributed to the fact that parents have generally had more time to complete the lists requested by schools, which has contributed to reducing the tension usually felt in the days leading up to the start of the school year. This has allowed for a more relaxed shopping experience for many families.
As the school year begins, it remains to be seen whether the situation will improve for students in artistic fields, who are struggling to find specific supplies. The authorities and suppliers will need to take note of this situation to ensure that all students have access to the necessary materials for their education.
Key points
- Algerian parents face less pressure while buying school supplies this year.
- Students in artistic fields struggle to find specific supplies.
- The calm back-to-school season is attributed to parents having more time to complete school supply lists.
