Parents' associations called on the Algerian authorities and the French representative office in Algeria to open an urgent investigation and review the management of the Alexandre Dumas International High School in Algiers, Oran, and Annaba.
Parents also demanded fair and equitable education for all students without discrimination. This came in parallel with their filing of a complaint with the relevant judicial authorities in Algiers, demanding a judicial investigation into compliance with national laws and bilateral agreements.
In an interview with Al Khabar, parents of students at the international high school presented official documents and testimonies of what they described as "serious violations affecting the institution's operations in Algiers, Oran, and Annaba."
In their meeting with El Khabar, the parents' representatives addressed "legal and ethical issues that touch upon the core of the educational process and contradict national principles and Algerian laws" on the part of this French educational institution operating in Algeria.
At the heart of these issues raised by parents' representatives is the stark contradiction between the high school's policies and the Algerian legal system. An official document, the subject of a complaint by parents, revealed that the administration is imposing its French model of secularism with unprecedented strictness. It prohibits any religious manifestation, such as wearing the hijab within the school's walls, or any discussion of Islamic beliefs, worship, or affiliations, such as someone saying they are fasting or going to pray outside of school hours, or other religious rituals and known pillars of Islam. It also prohibits teachers or students from discussing anything related to Islam among themselves, despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of students are Algerian Muslims.
These violations continue, even contradicting the principles of freedom of belief advocated by the French Republic. Moreover, these practices imposed on students, workers, and teachers directly contradict the Algerian Constitution, which makes Islam the state religion and guarantees freedom of religious practice for citizens.
Parent representatives pointed out that these practices violate the spirit of Article 50, which requires educational institutions to respect national and religious values.
According to the parents, these violations are not limited to the religious aspect, but extend to the legal sphere, as the secondary school exceeds the controls regulating the work of associations and unions. For example, they noted that French unions representing users (SNES and SGEN) and parents' associations, for example, are subject to French law 1901 and are licensed by French administrative authorities. However, they operate within the institution without any official license from the Algerian authorities (the Algerian Ministry of the Interior), in the absence of a partnership agreement with Algerian partners. This constitutes a clear violation of the Algerian Associations Law (12-06) and the Labor Law (90-14), which restrict union representation to locally accredited unions. This raises several questions about how subscriptions are managed and where they are directed.
This situation also constitutes a violation of International Labour Organization Convention No. 87, which stipulates the necessity of respecting the host country's legislation, a convention ratified by Algeria.
In this context, the parents' representative, Mr. K. N., emphasized that "any institution operating on Algerian soil is obligated to comply with the constitution and local laws without any exception or discrimination."
In an equally serious development, the high school administration is ignoring its commitments to the national curriculum. The teaching of Algerian history and civics is neglected within the institution, depriving students of any connection to their national heritage and cultural identity. This is despite the fact that the agreement signed between the two countries in 2002 stipulates the mandatory inclusion of these subjects in the curriculum. This constitutes a breach of official obligations and an obliteration of national identity in a foreign educational institution operating on Algerian soil.
According to the same source, the abuses are exacerbated by the implementation of blatantly discriminatory policies regarding scholarship grants. French students enjoy this privilege exclusively, while their Algerian colleagues are denied it, despite meeting all the required academic requirements. This discrimination raises significant questions about the principle of equal opportunity, which educational institutions are supposed to uphold. Furthermore, these practices fundamentally contradict the provisions of agreements that stipulate equality among all students, regardless of their nationality.