University: “Employment positions earmarked only for PhD holders spark off uproar among Masters’ holders

The recent baffling statement by the Minister of higher education and scientific research, Tahar Hadjar, regarding the granting of future employment at the Algerian universities to PhD holders only has touched off panic among thousands of Masters’ laureates who usually flock to limited positions annually to secure the position of “Assistant Professors”, with priority given to those stemming from the LMD cycle.

The Minister’s statement has befuddled thousands of holders of a Master’s degree in various disciplines, who pinned their hopes on recruitment at the University at the of “Associate Professor”, as it was regularly in force previously.

The Minister of higher education’s argument justifying the PhD  holders’ projected recruitment for University positions is designed to make the Algerian university system live up to international standards on employment quality, in order to upgrade the level of  teaching and supervision.

The Minister said that the sector will employ 3,000 new Professors during the next academic year to cover the needs of large number of students attending universities and therefore employment opportunities at universities will start early next year.