Benghabrit: Rumor about introduction of teaching of Arabic dialect in primary school cycle is an “unacceptable ruckus”

The Minister of National Education, Nouria Benghabrit, branded Thursday from the city of Laghouat in south-eastern Algeria, the persisting rumor regarding the projected introduction of the teaching of the Arabic dialect in the primary school cycle as an “unacceptable ruckus”.

The Minister, who was speaking on the local radio channel indicated that “the Arabic language remains the first language of instruction, adopted in the teaching of other subjects”, emphasizing, in this regard, that “the Constitution is clear-cut on the issue”.

“One should demonstrate wisdom and deal more efficiently with genuine pedagogical matters,” said Ms. Benghabrit, before  referring to the suggestions put forth by specialists who attended the  recent seminar on the evaluation of the implementation of the school system reform and who  recommended to take account, in a gradual manner, of the linguistic background of the child.

The Minister of National Education found, moreover, that the contents of the study textbooks left a “poor” place granted to national heritage, and expressed the wish to shed light at the educational level, on this national heritage, including popular poetry.