In Algeria, a Tug of War for Young Minds

[kerewin21 2]

ALGIERS — First, Abdel Malek Outas’s teachers taught him to write math equations in Arabic, and embrace Islam and the Arab world. Then they told him to write in Latin letters that are no longer branded unpatriotic, and open his mind to the West.

Malek is 19, and he is confused.

“When we were in middle school we studied only in Arabic,” he said. “When we went to high school, they changed the program, and a lot is in French. Sometimes, we don’t even understand what we are writing.”

The confusion has bled off the pages of his math book and deep into his life. One moment, he is rapping; another, he recounts how he flirted with terrorism, agreeing two years ago to go with a recruiter to kill apostates in the name of jihad.

At a time of religious revival across the Muslim world, Algeria’s youth are in play. The focus of this contest is the schools, where for decades Islamists controlled what children learned, and how they learned, officials and education experts here said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/world/af...amp;oref=slogin

[Meriem_DZ 37]

Interesting article. Thanks for posting.

Meriem

[Henia 11]

This article pretty much sums up things my husband has been telling me for years. About the education system and life for the youth here in Algeria. Reasons, he tells (and I can understand) why many Algerians have hard time with language. They taught both Arabe and French, but not to the fullest extent. My husband has told he, having a hugher education still has troubles with areas in both Arabe and French.

I know from my daughter, many subjects are not even totally explained ... but left pretty much to the student to self-study. Some ways this good, but for some I think who donnot have knowledgable people at home, to help them this is not good.

And it is not my place, to judge but I also feel many subjects are left out of the Algerian lesson plans. While other subjects, I have still to this day yet to understand, what they even are!

My daughter also used to complain in the beginning the 6 day week was hard on her, as was the content reading all day long ... from what she told me the teacher was not animated, making learning fun! I remember even when I was child, the schoolroom was fun place of exploring and learning. We did hands-on projects and was taught visually. Only peotry was verbally drilled into us. But Allahu allem ... I just figure they do what they can with what they have!

And as far, as this jihad recruiting, my husband too at young age was recruited with many of the boys of his neighbourhood. And it understand why it can seem appealing to boys/young men when the chances of employment and even marriage was slim.

I personally, donnot see the whole purpose of Arabization here in Algeria, since Algeria is really not Arabe at all.( Actually, I donnot see the whole point of Arabization in general where non-Arabs live)There are so many groups here ... that seem to be excluded on a nation level. And people donnot even speak real Arabe, but derja. Isn't it better to say "We are Algerians, proud of our mixed hertiage" Isn't that better? It would not made Algerians less Muslim (Islam being major religion here) I personally, love the diversity here.

The drop-out rate is sadly true ... I know in my whole neighbour and my husband's whole family he is the only one with higher education. And actually in our neighbour only one even employed.

But I do think this is good (beneficial) topic to explore, but somehow I think this one will get twisted too! Allahu allem, I pray this generation and future ones think about the future and life. Think for themselves ... and seek the answers to their questions, in order to improve their own state of being, as well as Algeria's and the world's.

[kerewin21 2]

Thanks for your thoughts, Henia. I see some parallels between the situation in Algeria and that in Morocco, though the degree of vetting of French influence is different. Although all the streets are being renamed in arabic, french is still widely taught in school starting early, and many TV programs and most academic discourse is in French.

The article is available in French and Arabic on the website if any of your SOs want to read it.

[amal 4]

shhhh i'm on a mission

[sarahaziz 0]

This article pretty much sums up things my husband has been telling me for years. About the education system and life for the youth here in Algeria. Reasons, he tells (and I can understand) why many Algerians have hard time with language. They taught both Arabe and French, but not to the fullest extent. My husband has told he, having a hugher education still has troubles with areas in both Arabe and French.

I know from my daughter, many subjects are not even totally explained ... but left pretty much to the student to self-study. Some ways this good, but for some I think who donnot have knowledgable people at home, to help them this is not good.

And it is not my place, to judge but I also feel many subjects are left out of the Algerian lesson plans. While other subjects, I have still to this day yet to understand, what they even are!

My daughter also used to complain in the beginning the 6 day week was hard on her, as was the content reading all day long ... from what she told me the teacher was not animated, making learning fun! I remember even when I was child, the schoolroom was fun place of exploring and learning. We did hands-on projects and was taught visually. Only peotry was verbally drilled into us. But Allahu allem ... I just figure they do what they can with what they have!

And as far, as this jihad recruiting, my husband too at young age was recruited with many of the boys of his neighbourhood. And it understand why it can seem appealing to boys/young men when the chances of employment and even marriage was slim.

I personally, donnot see the whole purpose of Arabization here in Algeria, since Algeria is really not Arabe at all.( Actually, I donnot see the whole point of Arabization in general where non-Arabs live)There are so many groups here ... that seem to be excluded on a nation level. And people donnot even speak real Arabe, but derja. Isn't it better to say "We are Algerians, proud of our mixed hertiage" Isn't that better? It would not made Algerians less Muslim (Islam being major religion here) I personally, love the diversity here.

The drop-out rate is sadly true ... I know in my whole neighbour and my husband's whole family he is the only one with higher education. And actually in our neighbour only one even employed.

But I do think this is good (beneficial) topic to explore, but somehow I think this one will get twisted too! Allahu allem, I pray this generation and future ones think about the future and life. Think for themselves ... and seek the answers to their questions, in order to improve their own state of being, as well as Algeria's and the world's.

I would like to differ on that information. That's a misconception with Americans speaking on Algeria. Just as 3rd world countries reading up on America get information that cannot be confirmed it's the same here in America we get mis informed. Algeria is a North African Arab Country. If you ask any Algerian what he/she considers himself/herself it's I'm arab. If you go to Sahara and visit old old villages see our museum in algiers and talk with algerian historians you will understand our deep rooted culture.

[mybackpages 0]

This article pretty much sums up things my husband has been telling me for years. About the education system and life for the youth here in Algeria. Reasons, he tells (and I can understand) why many Algerians have hard time with language. They taught both Arabe and French, but not to the fullest extent. My husband has told he, having a hugher education still has troubles with areas in both Arabe and French.

I know from my daughter, many subjects are not even totally explained ... but left pretty much to the student to self-study. Some ways this good, but for some I think who donnot have knowledgable people at home, to help them this is not good.

And it is not my place, to judge but I also feel many subjects are left out of the Algerian lesson plans. While other subjects, I have still to this day yet to understand, what they even are!

My daughter also used to complain in the beginning the 6 day week was hard on her, as was the content reading all day long ... from what she told me the teacher was not animated, making learning fun! I remember even when I was child, the schoolroom was fun place of exploring and learning. We did hands-on projects and was taught visually. Only peotry was verbally drilled into us. But Allahu allem ... I just figure they do what they can with what they have!

And as far, as this jihad recruiting, my husband too at young age was recruited with many of the boys of his neighbourhood. And it understand why it can seem appealing to boys/young men when the chances of employment and even marriage was slim.

I personally, donnot see the whole purpose of Arabization here in Algeria, since Algeria is really not Arabe at all.( Actually, I donnot see the whole point of Arabization in general where non-Arabs live)There are so many groups here ... that seem to be excluded on a nation level. And people donnot even speak real Arabe, but derja. Isn't it better to say "We are Algerians, proud of our mixed hertiage" Isn't that better? It would not made Algerians less Muslim (Islam being major religion here) I personally, love the diversity here.

The drop-out rate is sadly true ... I know in my whole neighbour and my husband's whole family he is the only one with higher education. And actually in our neighbour only one even employed.

But I do think this is good (beneficial) topic to explore, but somehow I think this one will get twisted too! Allahu allem, I pray this generation and future ones think about the future and life. Think for themselves ... and seek the answers to their questions, in order to improve their own state of being, as well as Algeria's and the world's.

I would like to differ on that information. That's a misconception with Americans speaking on Algeria. Just as 3rd world countries reading up on America get information that cannot be confirmed it's the same here in America we get mis informed. Algeria is a North African Arab Country. If you ask any Algerian what he/she considers himself/herself it's I'm arab. If you go to Sahara and visit old old villages see our museum in algiers and talk with algerian historians you will understand our deep rooted culture.

Anyone know what percentage of the population Beber in Algeria? I thought it was about 40%????