School violence on the rise in Algeria

Officials, parents and trade unionists sounded the alarm over increasing violence at Algeria’s schools either between the teacher and the pupil or between the pupil and his / her classmate.

• Sociologists and education researchers said violence acts are committed the most in schools located in affluent areas in Algiers.
• Chief of social change laboratory at a university in Algiers Nourredine Hakiki led a comparative study between Okba Bnou Nafaa Lycée located in the popular area of Bab El Oued and Bouaamama high school in El Mouradia, a rich quarter in Algiers.
• The study showed that violence acts committed by pupils against teachers increased by 20 percent in Bouaamama high school compared to Okba Lycée. On the other hand, a total of 60 percent of Okba’s pupils are beaten by teachers compared to 49 percent in Bouaamama.
• “The increase of school violence in affluent areas is due to the absence of collective consciousness and collective memory in such schools,” said Hakiki in a seminar held at the National Institute of Teachers Training on Monday.
• Four high school pupils in Algiers are prosecuted for offending the national flag.
• Experts who attended the seminar said the four pupils are victims of the absence of collective memory and they do not have sufficient knowledge about their country’s history.
• According to recent figures released by the Algerian national education ministry, some 47,000 assaults were perpetrated in schools in 2007-2008. Of them, 24,000 were committed in junior high schools, 16,000 in primary schools and more than 6,000 in high schools.
• The ministry suggested a draft bill to fight school violence to implement a set of strict measures against perpetrators.
• Algerian Education minister Abu Bak Ben Bouzid said the draft bill was based on various studies led by sociologists and psychologists in collaboration with the Unicef.
• “The draft bill includes articles meant to reactivate the interior regulation at schools and get parents more involved in the fight against violence,” he added.
• Education trade unionists and a representative of the education department in Algiers said any draft bill can not end school violence if a set of main points are not taken in consideration.
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• Family involvement and inhibition treatment
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• Participants in the seminar suggested real partnership between all education actors including pupils, teachers and parents along with intensified researches in violence in schools.
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• Pay raise
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• They stressed the importance of pay raise for teachers and providing them with houses inside schools.
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• Psychological, sociological care and awareness
• The participants urged teachers to make their pupils ready in terms of psychological conditions in order to understand the courses. They also stressed the necessity of listening to pupils’ concerns as part of pedagogy.
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• Anti-violence TV programmes
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• Some participants believed TV shows intended to adults are behind violence among children. They criticised the lack of special programmes for children such as cultivating shows which could have made the child more conscious about some important behaviours in his / her life.
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• Banning violent toys
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• Pupils’ parents and the education representative pointed out the danger of toys sold in the Algerian market. “They symbolise violence, murder and crimes. They have a negative impact on children and affect their behaviours with people around them.”
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• Competent teachers and primary schools
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• Trade unionist Ait Ben Hamouda said violence can be stopped by sending competent teachers to primary schools. “This can not be done only if teachers are trained in various literature and scientific fields.