Private school licensing to resume under new regulations

The Minister of National Education, Mohamed Sghir Saâdaoui, announced on Thursday in Algiers that the licensing of private schools will resume once the new specifications document is officially issued. He stressed that the sector aims to orient private schools toward specialized fields in order to improve the overall quality of education.

Speaking during a public session at the Council of the Nation, the minister explained that the new regulatory framework is currently under review by the General Secretariat of the Government. The future accreditation of private institutions will depend on compliance with conditions, the national school map, and the real needs of each region.

Saâdaoui revealed that Algeria currently has 628 private educational institutions across 38 wilayas, noting that the approval of new schools remains conditional, particularly for specialized institutions whose files are still under study. Investors interested in the sector were invited to submit their applications.

The minister recalled that accreditation was suspended in 2022 after violations were identified in some private schools, which exploited weak oversight. This led to the establishment of a multi-sectoral committee tasked with drafting a new, more adapted regulatory framework.

In line with the President’s directives, private schools will be encouraged to invest in new scientific specializations, including computer science, cybersecurity, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence.

Regarding the baccalaureate exam, Saâdaoui confirmed that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure candidates’ comfort, with coordination allowing access to youth centers, mosques, and other facilities for rest and revision.