Teaching Amazigh in universities…mechanisms and curricula – New Algeria

The topic of the Amazigh language in the system of higher education and scientific research in Algeria, “Achievements and Prospects,” formed the focus of a national symposium, the activities of which were launched at Larbi Ben M’hidi University in the city of Oum El Bouaghi.

During the symposium, which includes the organization of several scientific sessions, a set of data will be discussed, summed up in the status of this language in the Algerian university, statistics, the current situation, institutional achievements in the field of its education, research in various branches and specializations, the nature of partnership and coordination between the various actors, and forecasting the extent of teaching the Amazigh language in institutions. University and the importance of developing a plan to expand it.

During his intervention, Mr. Assad considered that organizing this national symposium “aims to highlight the state’s efforts in the higher education and scientific research sectors to promote the Amazigh language and culture.” He added that “the participation of actors in the higher education and scientific research sector will enable the submission of suggestions and enriching the curricula necessary to promote the Amazigh language and culture.”

The same speaker, on the occasion, called for “avoiding presenting the issue of the mother tongue and identity in an ideological political guise, because this – according to him – was often a cause of exacerbating the tension and fueling an imaginary linguistic conflict in closed forums and through social networking sites, and this is far from the case.” About the daily reality of the open and fused Algerian society within a unifying national container.”

During this scientific meeting, a digital dictionary project for the Amazigh language will be presented, the implementation of which was supervised by the Semitic Amazigh Prefecture, with the aim of updating it and enriching its content according to the linguistic variables circulating across the national territory.

The organization of this symposium, which will include an exhibition of audiovisual books in the Amazigh language, will mark the signing of a cooperation and partnership agreement between the Semitic Prefecture of Amazigh Language and the University of Larbi Ben M’hidi in Oum El Bouaghi. It will also provide a donation of books and publications from the Semitic Prefecture of Amazigh Language to the university institutions housing the departments of Amazigh language and culture, to “create a communicative space.” And coordination between various actors at the level of higher education institutions and highlighting the state’s efforts in the field of promoting and developing education and research.

The symposium was attended, in addition to the local authorities of the state of Oum El Bouaghi, by the Secretary-General of the Semitic Amazigh Prefecture, Si Al-Hachemi Assad, and the heads of the universities that host the departments of Amazigh language, culture, and translation, the heads of these departments, the director of the research center, and the directors of the Amazigh language laboratories, to “shed light on the importance of implementing education sector policies.” In the field of multilingualism as a pillar for achieving sustainable development.”