The Algerian academic year 2026-2027 began on September 21, with nearly 12 million students attending primary, middle, and secondary schools. However, just over two weeks into the new school year, the National Union of Parents of Students issued a warning on October 9 about anonymous calls on social media. These calls were encouraging students to go on strike on October 11 and disrupt their classes.
The National Union of Parents of Students, led by Saadi Hamid, has called on parents and guardians to be vigilant and protect their children from external threats. They urged parents to accompany their children to school and to discuss the potential consequences of heeding these suspicious calls. The union emphasized the importance of shielding children from harm and promoting a safe learning environment.
Observers of the education system have expressed concern over these developments, noting that while regular dialogue between educational stakeholders has been maintained, some individuals are attempting to exploit children and adolescents. These malicious actors aim to create disruptions in schools, including primary schools, middle schools, and high schools.
Experts are questioning the motives behind these anonymous calls, which they consider extremely serious. However, they also believe it is unlikely that students will follow these calls, given the potential negative impact on their education. Nevertheless, they stress the need for awareness campaigns in schools, involving teachers, monitors, and counselors, to educate students about the risks associated with such calls.
Despite some areas for improvement, the new school year has begun smoothly, with 289 new educational facilities inaugurated, including 151 primary schools, 90 middle schools, and 48 high schools. The Ministry of Education has also taken measures to ensure the availability of textbooks, with over 80 million copies distributed nationwide.
The government has also focused on strengthening pedagogical supervision by recruiting new teachers who have passed a competitive exam. During a Council of Ministers meeting on September 6, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune emphasized the need to keep schools separate from ideological and political conflicts, ensuring that debates within the education sector remain focused on pedagogy.
President Tebboune also instructed the Minister of National Education to optimize the use of recent advancements in the education sector, ensuring a successful and high-quality academic year. With these measures in place, the government aims to provide a stable and productive learning environment for Algerian students.
Key points
- The Algerian government has taken steps to improve the education sector, including the construction of new schools and the recruitment of new teachers.
- The National Union of Parents of Students is urging parents to be vigilant and protect their children from suspicious social media calls.
- Observers are calling for awareness campaigns in schools to educate students about the risks associated with heeding anonymous calls.
