Algerian universities suffer blockage of studies since months

Algiers- University professors are protesting here on Sunday against the government’s policy which led to the blockage of study for more than two months.

A number of Algerian professors said the university’s administration is responsible for this blockage, especially since LMD system students refuse to study and the CNAS branch still threat of continuing a series of protests, however; authorities did not take a positive step to stop the crisis.

Algerian professors assert, in a statement available to Echorouk, that the protest out of the university doors is caused by obstruction of the department to conduct lessons at the level of the largest Algerian universities (in terms of the number of students).

Representatives of professors confirm, after Thursday’s meeting, that the cause of their protests is the policy of exclusion exercised by the university officials, and the chaos in the faculties. A number of them added that the officials interfere even in the scientific councils of the sections.

Algiers universities are experiencing a blockage of studies, particularly the Department of Languages, where students called upon the administration to reduce the transition rate, in light of a high failure rate which reaches over 80% for the Department of English.

A number of Algerian universities are also noticing congestion, especially in some branches like the University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediéne (Algiers), where LMD students refuse to study and Boumerdes University (east of Algiers where over 200 students from the Department of Chemistry failed and rejected this decision.

The situation is not different in Oran (west of Algeria) and Blida (West of Algiers) Universities, where students doubted the list of successful in the “Master” exams.

In context, branches of the National Council of University Professors “CNAS” expressed their resentment of the situation. The Chairman of the National Council of High Education’s Professors, Abdelmalek Rahmani said that the obstraction in some Algerian universities is circumstantial rather than permanent, adding that the problem in some universities due to the administration’s refusal to open dialogue with professors.

Mr. Rahmani called upon the universities’ administrations to listen to both students and professors, asserting on the need to manage the pedagogical crisis, and overcome it in order to ensure a successful university season, away from any strikes.

The spokesman confirmed that his organization will not launch any strikes that would paralyze the universities, particularly in the current time, however; he did not deny that some university departments did not move to resolve a number of outstanding issues with respect to professors of higher education and scientific research.