A new executive decree published in the Official Gazette establishes a rigorous framework for private educational institutions in Algeria. Private schools are now legally required to follow the national curricula exclusively, as determined by the Ministry of National Education, with a total ban on foreign programs. Instruction must be conducted in Arabic for all subjects, except for foreign languages, and institutions must bear names in the national language that are free from any foreign or ideological references.
The decree ties accreditation to the national school map and sets strict criteria for school founders and pedagogical directors. Founders must be Algerian nationals at least 25 years old, while pedagogical directors must hold a university degree and have at least ten years of teaching experience. The law prohibits the school founder from simultaneously holding the position of pedagogical director.
To safeguard students' right to education, the decree mandates a bank guarantee to ensure continuity if a school fails to meet its legal obligations; in such cases, the Ministry can appoint an administrator to manage the institution until the school year concludes. Additionally, the regulation improves transparency for parents by requiring formal schooling contracts and the mandatory publication of tuition fees three months prior to the start of the school year.