In Algeria, the administrative languages are traditionally Arabic and French. But the Algerian Minister of Higher Education has been saying for several weeks that the French language is not useful and that he would like it to be replaced by English. Tayeb Bouzid, who does not seem to want to stop there, made a first decision this week about it.
Use more English in universities? This week, Algerian Minister of Higher Education Tayeb Bouzid took the first steps. The headers of the official documents will now have to be written in Arabic and English.
” If we put online modules taught in Arabic, there are 200 or 300 million people who will read them. If you put them in French, nobody speaks French. If we want foreign students to come, we have to use the English language, “he says.
French is taught in elementary school, and some of the university courses are in this language. It is also a business language, since France is one of the biggest partners of Algeria. But for the minister, it’s English that will help the students.
” We want, ” he says, “to give Algerian students every chance to have a place in this new world. Because in this new world, there is no pity, nothing, we must have the means and the skills. If we do not have them, we are a burden for society, for the country and for the others. ”
At the beginning of this month of July 2019, Tayeb Bouzid launched a survey on social networks on the subject, accompanied by a communication campaign. The results of this study will be known on August 5th.
