BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- With over 1.5 billion speakers across the globe, English is the most widely spoken language in the world. Accordingly, the ability to speak English can unlock an endless pool of opportunities, including career progression, traveling the world, meeting new people, and immersing yourself in different cultures.
Because it’s so widely spoken, English has been dubbed the modern-day “world language” or “lingua franca” . It is even estimated that by 2050, half of the world will speak it at some level.
The benefits of learning English are numerous. It opens up a world of opportunities for personal and professional growth, enabling individuals to communicate with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. English proficiency also enhances one’s employability, as many companies require employees who can communicate effectively in English. Moreover, English is the language of international travel, making it easier for individuals to navigate foreign countries and communicate with locals. It is also the language of the internet, with the vast majority of online content being in English. In addition, learning English can broaden one’s horizons and provide access to a wealth of knowledge and information. Many of the world’s top universities and research institutions use English as their primary language of instruction and publication.”
In light of this, the majority of Algerians, especially students, welcomed the decisions of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to wean them away from the language of Molière and bolster English tuition in the country.
Algeria is moving further away from its francophone history by introducing instruction in English in primary schools. The country is trying to improve learning and academic and professional opportunities.
Algerian primary schools have scrambled to introduce English lessons under the instructions of President Tebboune, who announced, in the midst of the summer holidays, that the authorities would add English to the primary school syllabus at the start of the 2022-2023 new school year.
More recently, during a Council of Ministers meeting on Sunday, the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune made a significant announcement regarding the teaching of English in primary schools. Specifically, he ordered the validation of English language instruction beginning in the third year of primary school. This move is expected to have a positive impact on the education system and the future prospects of students.
In addition to this, President Tebboune also directed the creation of a new specialty in the higher education sector that will focus on training English language teachers for primary schools. This new program is set to commence as of the 2023–2024 school year and is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the quality of English language instruction in primary schools.
Furthermore, the President emphasized the importance of accelerating the recruitment process for holders of magister and doctorate degrees, as proposed by the Minister of Higher Education. This will ensure that the necessary expertise is available to support the implementation of these new initiatives.
President Tebboune’s commitment to improving the quality of English language instruction is commendable and will be welcomed by educators and parents alike.
Interviewed by Dzair Tube, Algerians praised these decisions. “In today’s interconnected world, the ability to communicate effectively in English has become increasingly crucial. English has emerged as the global language of business, science, technology, and diplomacy, making it essential for individuals to acquire proficiency in this language. French is the language of the colonizer.I want to drop it and adopt the language used worldwide,” said an Algerian.