For weeks, a controversy has been escalating around the Lycée International Alexandre Dumas, located in Algiers, Oran, and Annaba. What began as a concern among a few families has snowballed into a large-scale protest. Parents, backed by several associations, are vocally denouncing practices they deem discriminatory, illegal, and contrary to Algerian laws. At the heart of the dispute is a blanket ban on Islamic religious symbols within the school, alongside other contentious measures affecting the identity, legality, and equality of Algerian students.
Testimonies from parents, reported in an interview with El Khabar and supported by official documents, allegedly expose “serious violations” at the school. The issues go beyond education, reflecting a clash between a French institution strictly enforcing French-style secularism and a host country whose Constitution recognizes Islam as the state religion and protects freedom of worship.
The primary point of contention is the school’s enforcement of secularism. Parents report that wearing the hijab is strictly prohibited, as are religious discussions, expressions of faith like fasting, or even mentioning Islamic practices. These rules apply to a predominantly Muslim student body in a country where education is expected to respect national and religious values, as outlined in Article 50 of Algeria’s education law. For complainants, this represents a clear violation of national legislation and an attack on their children’s cultural identity.
The grievances don’t stop there. Parents also criticize the activities of French unions and associations, such as SNES, SGEN, and others operating under France’s 1901 law, which they claim function without clear legal authorization or partnerships with Algerian entities. According to Algerian laws 12-06 on associations and 90-14 on labor, this is illegal and also breaches ILO Convention 87, which requires union activities to comply with host country laws.
Another sore point is the absence of Algerian history and civics in the curriculum, despite a 2002 bilateral agreement between Algeria and France mandating their inclusion. This omission, parents argue, deprives students of essential knowledge about their country and fosters a growing sense of cultural disconnection.
The issue of scholarships further fuels discontent. According to family representatives, only French students can access these funds, while deserving Algerian students are denied. This disparity allegedly violates the equity principles in bilateral agreements. Additionally, skyrocketing tuition fees are a major concern. The cost of the baccalauréat exam has surged to 305,000 DZD (about 2,110 euros at the official exchange rate), a 430% increase in three years. Annual tuition fees have climbed to 800,000 DZD, up over 50% in less than a decade. In comparison, similar fees are significantly lower in Tunisia and Morocco, deepening feelings of unfairness among Algerian families.
The situation for independent candidates is equally troubling. Each year, around 3,000 students register individually for exams and pay nearly 2,100 euros—six times more than their peers in Morocco or Tunisia, despite identical curricula.
Faced with what they call an intolerable situation, parents say they’ve reached out to the school’s administration and the cultural counselor at the French embassy. They claim the diplomat’s response—that “these matters are not for parents but should be handled through diplomatic channels”—was shocking and exclusionary, especially since Algerian families largely fund the school.
The parents insist that any institution operating in Algeria must comply with local laws without exception. They’re calling on Algerian authorities to intervene, launch a serious investigation, and uphold principles of justice, equality, and national sovereignty. A legal case has been filed in Algiers, potentially leading to a review of the school’s legal framework. The issue is now in the public eye, with all attention on whether authorities will opt for firmness or compromise.
