Algeria Puts English Ahead of French in Primary Schools
Algeria is changing the order in which foreign languages are taught in its public schools, placing English ahead of French from the 2026/27 academic year in a move that could reshape language learning for a new generation.
Under the new arrangement, pupils will begin studying English in the third year of primary school, while French will be introduced a year later. The Education Ministry has also announced plans to increase English teaching hours, particularly in technical fields.
The change builds on Algeria’s gradual expansion of English in education. English was introduced into primary schools in 2022, while the government has increasingly promoted the language as part of efforts to strengthen foreign-language skills in universities and technical education.
The decision also carries historical significance. French remained deeply embedded in Algeria’s education, administration and professional life after independence in 1962, despite government efforts to strengthen Arabic. The language’s continued presence has also been linked to the country’s long colonial experience under France.
Algeria’s move mirrors a wider shift across North Africa. Morocco began expanding English in public schools in 2023, while younger people in Tunisia have increasingly expressed interest in English as its global influence grows. Surveys cited in regional research have shown stronger preference for English among young people in both countries.
For Algeria, however, the change is about more than replacing one foreign language with another. English increasingly dominates international science, technology, business and digital communication, giving the language a growing role in education systems seeking to prepare students for a more global economy.
The reform therefore places English at the centre of Algeria’s attempt to modernise foreign-language education, while French gradually moves away from the position it has held in the country’s schools for decades.
