Echorouk's Forum: “Educational reforms to bear fruit only through open, frank and constructive dialogue”
The weekly Echorouk's Forum was devoted to the flagging educational sector in Algeria and how best to give it a new impetus in the light of the new-fangled reforms introduced by the national education ministry with several personalities and experts airing their views and opinions on this paramount issue.
- The participants in this educational Forum made an overall assessment of all the reforms initiated by the national education Ministry with the aim of ensuring the revival of the dormant and lethargic educational sector since 2003.
- The national educational sector has been beset by numerous strikes observed for the past few years by teachers and workers of the education sector over pay claims and better working conditions including the right to early retirement owing to the stress and constraints inherent to the teaching profession.
- Doctor Ali Ben Mohamed: “I think that the reforms initiated by the relevant ministry are counterproductive and the Arab language is not to blame for the dismal failure recorded in the revival of the educational sector in Algeria”.
- Mr. Abdelkader Kouini, member of the educational reform commission: “We have never been involved in decision-taking and we used to hear about the promulgation of the educational reforms by the national education ministerial department through the media like all the other citizens”.
- Mr. Sadek Dziri, chairman of the national union of educational workers and training: “We have always been left in the lurch and the various reforms introduced in the educational sector have been foisted upon us by the relevant Ministry without resorting to a frank, open and constructive dialogue as it should be in these circumstances because the school issue is of paramount importance as it puts at stake the future of millions of pupils and high-school students in Algeria”.
- Mr. Abdelhamid Mehri, Former secretary general of the national education ministry: “I firmly believe that this vexed issue will not find an appropriate and lasting breakthrough as long as a broad-based and positive dialogue is not opened without any ulterior motives between the representatives of the national education ministry and those of the teachers and the workers of the education sector as a whole”.
- Ali Fodil: it’s time to discuss and assess reforms
- General Director of Echorouk newspaper of Algeria said he had been thinking of organising a forum about reforms for years. “Education is a strategic sector and it is the second incubator not to say the first one for pupils. It is also the environment where pupils spend most of the day’s hours.”
- “In developed countries, education is the factory which makes generations and competences to lead the future,” he added.
- He also said the Algerian State has made big and exceptional efforts since the independence to ensure education to everyone. Education experienced partial reforms in the 1960’s and mid 1980’s. In 1976, an ordinance was promulgated to create the primary school.
- “Since then, millions and thousands graduated from universities or benefited from vocational training. Some of them are executives in different sectors. However, the same school was reformed in the beginning and experienced radical changes,” he added.
- He believes that it is time to assess this experience and reforms, saying the forum is meant to that.