Pedagogue Ahmed Tessa issued a comprehensive defense in August 2026 against accusations from former ministers regarding his public stances on the French language and educational reforms in Algeria. The controversy follows National Education Minister Mohamed Seghir Saadaoui’s decision to replace French with English in the third year of primary school, sparking widespread national debate.
The Anatomy of the Algerian School Curriculum Debate
The overhaul of Algeria’s educational curriculum has transformed from a routine administrative adjustment into a focal point of intense socio-political friction. According to reports from Résistance Républicaine, Minister Mohamed Seghir Saadaoui’s policy shift toward English in primary schools drew immediate pushback from educators and analysts. Pedagogue Ahmed Tessa openly criticized the move, arguing that it improperly sidelines French.
But the policy debate quickly escalated past classroom logistics. Former Commerce Minister El Hachemi Djaaboub and former official Mourad Benachenhou targeted Tessa publicly, accusing him of undermining national constants and maintaining foreign proximities.
The Bottom Line
- Policy Shift: The Ministry of National Education replaced French with English in the third year of primary education, triggering widespread public and political friction.
- Political Resistance: Louisa Hanoune, Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party (Parti des Travailleurs), publicly criticized the reform as an “ideological” decision made without broader societal consensus.
- Personal Defense: Ahmed Tessa released a detailed rebuttal to accusations from former ministers, citing his family’s revolutionary history and challenging critics to find anti-national sentiment in his writings dating back to 1989.
Defending the Record: Tessa Answers Former Ministers
Facing direct accusations from El Hachemi Djaaboub and Mourad Benachenhou, Tessa took to social media to dismantle the claims point by point. As detailed by Rafik Tadjer, Tessa issued a direct challenge to his detractors: Je vous mets au défi de me trouver un écrit – mes articles datent de 1989 – où j’ai porté atteinte à ces deux constantes (islam et arabité) de notre identité.
Tessa defended his analytical commentary on the quality of religious education and Arabic instruction in state schools. Il est de mon devoir d’alerter pour ajuster le tir et corriger ces dysfonctionnements et ces dérives pédagogiques,
he stated. Addressing insinuations regarding his ties to France, Tessa noted that he had not visited the country since 1986, had never requested a French visa, and did not travel to Paris to collect a previously awarded literary prize.
To reinforce his national credentials, Tessa highlighted his family’s sacrifices during the Algerian War of Independence, reminding readers that he lost five uncles who fell as martyrs fighting colonial forces. Turning the critique back on his opponents, Tessa observed: Pour l’usage du français, vous êtes tous les deux de parfaits francophones bilingues et nul n’a le droit de vous traiter d’agent de la France pour cela.
Tessa also reported receiving veiled threats following his interventions in the national language debate.
Political Pushback and Calls for Presidential Intervention
The controversy is no longer confined to academic circles. Louisa Hanoune, Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party (PT), stepped into the public arena to condemn the administration’s timeline and methodology. Speaking at an Algiers regional meeting reported by Madjid Makedhi, Hanoune characterized the curriculum overhaul as an abrupt, “hussarde” maneuver.
| Actor / Entity | Role / Affiliation | Stance on Curriculum Reform |
|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Seghir Saadaoui | Minister of Education | Implemented primary school shifts replacing French with English. |
| Ahmed Tessa | Pedagogue | Criticized the exclusion of French; defended pedagogical standards. |
| Louisa Hanoune | Secretary-General, Workers’ Party (PT) | Called for suspension of the reform and broader public debate. |
| El Hachemi Djaaboub & Mourad Benachenhou | Former Government Ministers | Criticized Tessa’s public positions regarding language policy. |
Hanoune formally called on President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to suspend the implementation of the reform. She urged the government to open transparent consultations with qualified specialists to safeguard the future of the national school system. L’avenir de l’Ecole algérienne ne peut être décidé dans un cadre administratif restreint. La fonction de l’école concerne toute la société,
Hanoune stated, arguing that the decision engages the formation of future generations and requires broader debate across public and private media channels.
Broader Institutional Implications
While political parties largely maintain silence on linguistic adjustments—with the Workers’ Party standing as a notable exception—the underlying structural questions remain unresolved. Without a broad consensus among teachers, parents, and academic specialists, institutional friction surrounding primary school curricula will likely persist.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.
