₦airaland Forum

Algeria is moving further towards English in its education system, with the government confirming changes that reduce the prominence of French in primary schools from the 2026-2027 academic year.

Under the new arrangement, English will be introduced from the third year of primary school, while French will begin a year later, from the fourth year. The move effectively makes English the first foreign language pupils encounter in the primary-school system.

English to Start Earlier in Primary Schools

Algeria’s Ministry of National Education said the new arrangement would take effect from the 2026-2027 school year.

The ministry explained that English would be introduced in the third year of primary education, while French would continue as a second foreign language from the fourth year.

Officials said the policy is designed to strengthen foreign-language education and prepare pupils for future academic, technological, economic and cultural demands.

The ministry also said the decision is consistent with Algeria’s education law, which provides for pupils to study at least two foreign languages.

French Still Remains in the Curriculum

The reform does not remove French entirely from Algeria’s primary-school system.

Instead, French instruction will start one year later than English, meaning pupils will study English first before adding French from the fourth year.

The change therefore represents a shift in the order and emphasis of foreign-language teaching rather than an immediate end to French-language education in schools.

Policy Sparks Debate

The decision has generated debate in Algeria, particularly among French-speaking sections of society.

Critics have raised concerns about the possible impact of the change on the quality of education and argued that French remains deeply embedded in parts of Algeria’s education system and economy.

Supporters, meanwhile, see English as increasingly important for science, technology, international communication and the modern economy. The debate reflects Algeria’s long-running linguistic and cultural tensions surrounding Arabic, French and, increasingly, English.

English Expansion Extends Beyond Primary Education

The shift is also part of a broader move towards English in Algeria’s education sector.

The country has already been increasing the use of English in higher education, including the gradual switch from French to English in medicine and science-related university programmes.

The latest primary-school policy therefore forms part of a wider effort to expand English across Algeria’s education system.


https://www.lagoslately.com/algeria-promotes-english-as-french-loses-ground-in-primary-schools/

Dunces!

Why not adopt your own native language!

China, Saudi, Oman, UAE, Russia, Germany, France, UK and the likes did not need to adopt a language. They accepted and propagated what they have!

You dumped French and adopted English like you still not speaking the language of your colonial masters.

That's their choice and I hope it pays them

They can do both. Algeria

Le francais est une langue tres difficile alors que l'anglais est facile pour beaucoup de gens.

HacheNoire:
Dunces!

Why not adopt your own native language!

China, Saudi, Oman, UAE, Russia, Germany, France, UK and the likes did not need to adopt a language. They accepted and propagated what they have!

You dumped French and adopted English like you still not speaking the language of your colonial masters.

what's wrong with picking up languages? children easily learn as many as are put before them.

maestroferddi:
Le francais est une langue tres difficile alors que l'anglais est facile pour beaucoup de gens.

Qui vous a dit ça ? Cela dépend de votre orientation.

See as they look clean and kept, no hijab wahala. go to north and see how they make issue of hijab above national issue

English nah Baba all over the world

There's no country you will get to that you won't see a person who understand English

HacheNoire:
Dunces!

Why not adopt your own native language!

China, Saudi, Oman, UAE, Russia, Germany, France, UK and the likes did not need to adopt a language. They accepted and propagated what they have!

You dumped French and adopted English like you still not speaking the language of your colonial masters.

Children will be fluent in English and French

In those countries you mention, their are lots of people who understand English when compared to other foreign language

ChristineC:
what's wrong with picking up languages? children easily learn as many as are put before them.

So why is the native language not prioritized ahead of that of the colonial masters?

Parachoko:
Children will be fluent in English and French

In those countries you mention, their are lots of people who understand English when compared to other foreign language

Yes, they understand but their native language is the priority and their strongest.

Burkina Faso is doing the same, they have removed French as their official language. They're also removing France's history from their curriculum. Algeria came to Niger's help when it recently came under attack.

That's how it should be.

Absolutely! Let’s keep it simple and streamlined. English is clearly the language of progress and influence.

Technical Writer

HacheNoire:
Dunces!

Why not adopt your own native language!

China, Saudi, Oman, UAE, Russia, Germany, France, UK and the likes did not need to adopt a language. They accepted and propagated what they have!

You dumped French and adopted English like you still not speaking the language of your colonial masters.

you are typing here in english language. why? why not propagate your language here and stop using english.

Kingsean:
you are typing here in english language. why? why not propagate your language here and stop using english.

Because the bots block it!

HacheNoire:
Because the bots block it!

na lie. i have seen people posting their dialects here

Kingsean:
you are typing here in english language. why? why not propagate your language here and stop using english.

No mind dat one na so im dey take yarn dust.

Same different, they dropped one colonial master's language and picked up another colonial language.

maestroferddi:
Le francais est une langue tres difficile alors que l'anglais est facile pour beaucoup de gens.

I agree
The French have refused to simplify their language because of empty pride and bravado.

Their eyes go clear eventually

People are ditching the French but trust tinubu to run to them

HacheNoire:
Dunces!

Why not adopt your own native language!

China, Saudi, Oman, UAE, Russia, Germany, France, UK and the likes did not need to adopt a language. They accepted and propagated what they have!

You dumped French and adopted English like you still not speaking the language of your colonial masters.

Germans learn English in school. They're more fluent than literally every Nigerian university graduate. English is the language on an international stage. You're actually slow to realise its a leverage for international relations

Here in Nigeria, we are still rejecting English for Hausa and other local languages. Wonderment.

Colony7:
Germans learn English in school. They're literally more fluent than literally most Nigerian university graduates. English is the language on an international stage, you're actually slow to realise its a leverage for international relations

Who made the international relations? Same colonial masters?

What’s the official language of Germany? Is English a priority?

What’s the whole country about? English?

Just look into the mirror, the slow person is there.

HacheNoire:
Dunces!

Why not adopt your own native language!

China, Saudi, Oman, UAE, Russia, Germany, France, UK and the likes did not need to adopt a language. They accepted and propagated what they have!

You dumped French and adopted English like you still not speaking the language of your colonial masters.

Imagine if every country sticks to their own native language. Don't you think it would be more difficult for cross border communication to take place? If for instance you only speak a Nigerian language how would you travel to the United States or UK to communicate there? Aside from cultural pride I don't see any benefit sticking to your native language. The world would be better off speaking one language so everyone can travel and understand each other.

Nefort:
Imagine if every country sticks to their own native language. Don't you think it would be more difficult for cross border communication to take place? If for instance you only speak a Nigerian language how would you travel to the United States or UK to communicate there? Aside from cultural pride I don't see any benefit sticking to your native language. The world would be better off speaking one language so everyone can travel and understand each other.

How does cross boarder communication happen in the UN?

Why can’t the world adopt a Nigerian or African language? Because they were first to propane theirs with colonialism.

We weren’t dunces! We went to places outside our shores and did not colonize anyone. Never enforced language or massacre people for refusing our knowledge.

Nations on Earth have stuck to their native language. What does Africa do, suck up to those of their masters.

HacheNoire:
How does cross boarder communication happen in the UN?

The average man in the streets doesn't have access to the translation tools used at the UN.

Why can’t the world adopt a Nigerian or African language? Because they were first to propane theirs with colonialism.

Nigerian languages are only spoken in Nigeria. If you can only speak a Nigerian language you wouldn't be able to communicate when you leave Igbo land or Yoruba land. But English is already a major international language so it makes sense to give it priority and learn it so you can communicate world wide.

We weren’t dunces! We went to places outside our shores and did not colonize anyone. Never enforced language or massacre people for refusing our knowledge

Without the colonial masters are you aware you would have been living in the Stone age? The benefits out weighed the disadvantages.

Nations on Earth have stuck to their native language. What does Africa do, suck up to those of their masters.

African countries are not the only countries speaking English. Other countries outside Africa also speak English combined with their native languages. Just like India, Singapore, Philippines, etc

HacheNoire:
Who made the international relations? Same colonial masters?

What’s the official language of Germany? Is English a priority?

What’s the whole country about? English?

Just look into the mirror, the slow person is there.

Arabic is still the main language of Algeria just as Deutsch is the main language of Germans, and Dutch is the main language of Netherlands citizens. These Nations learn English from primary school equivalent of ours until high school.Same for Sweden, Norway etc. Algeria has been doing the same by teaching French as a second language, and now they've Introduced English.

Most of you don't know how a working nation operates and you therefore argue out of ignorance.

HacheNoire:
Dunces!

Why not adopt your own native language!

China, Saudi, Oman, UAE, Russia, Germany, France, UK and the likes did not need to adopt a language. They accepted and propagated what they have!

You dumped French and adopted English like you still not speaking the language of your colonial masters.

There might be legitimate barriers to adopting native language(s)

HacheNoire:
Dunces!

Why not adopt your own native language!

China, Saudi, Oman, UAE, Russia, Germany, France, UK and the likes did not need to adopt a language. They accepted and propagated what they have!

You dumped French and adopted English like you still not speaking the language of your colonial masters.

Not all of them. A lot of Chinese in China are now enrolling in English lessons like back-to-back. It might not be in their curriculum but it is beginning to show (the lacuna). The aim is to be able to communicate with their foreign counterparts. Besides, no be by refusing to adopt foreign language be prosperity. There are countries that speak foreign languages and are even more prosperous than some countries you listed out there. You wey dey look for growth no suppose dey do yanga, dey refuse international languages. It will be gross stupidity. Lack and pride/arrogance is a very dangerous combo. The aim like I said is for SMOOTH international business transaction. Its very good. Just have a good government THAT'S ALL

shegztech:
Not all of them. A lot of Chinese in China are now enrolling in English lessons like back-to-back. It might not be in their curriculum but it is beginning to show (the lacuna). The aim is to be able to communicate with their foreign counterparts. Besides, no be by refusing to adopt foreign language be prosperity. There are countries that speak foreign languages and are even more prosperous than some countries you listed out there. You wey dey look for growth no suppose dey do yanga, dey refuse international languages. It will be gross stupidity. Lack and pride/arrogance is a very dangerous combo. The aim like I said is for SMOOTH international business transaction. It’s very good. Just have a good government THAT'S ALL

So English is growth now! The dialect of a one time village now called UK.

You said Chinese are learning English? What is their major language from basic tertiary?

Not even all their course are in English and yet, they doing wonders matching up to super powers!

We that learnt English all our life’s! Most of our kids can’t even speak native language fluently! What have we achieved!

We are products of colonization! People whose culture have been wiped off by colonization!

A people who even detest their own tradition, culture, language and identity, all in the name of “wannabe”

Like they will ever fit into the white man’s league!

HacheNoire:
So English is growth now! The dialect of a one time village now called UK.

You said Chinese are learning English? What is their major language from basic tertiary?

Not even all their course are in English and yet, they doing wonders matching up to super powers!

We that learnt English all our life’s! Most of our kids can’t even speak native language fluently! What have we achieved!

We are products of colonization! People whose culture have been wiped off by colonization!

A people who even detest their own tradition, culture, language and identity, all in the name of “wannabe”

Like they will ever fit into the white man’s league!

You clearly didn't understand what I wrote up there. Its not about detesting your culture, NO. It is about "business". You didn't even call "Singapore" (where there is little or no poverty) in your "matching with the whites". Singaporeans have outmatched whites (in terms of national wealth and standard of living). Singapore is now synonymous to "wealth". What is their official language? Go back and read what I said about China to understand what I was saying.