Algiers - Hocine Bousalah
Algerian teachers are pushing for education reforms
Algerian security forces have arrested dozens of academics and schoolteachers during a demonstration outside the Ministry of Education offices in Algiers. The demonstrators had
organised the march to pressurise Algerian authorities into carrying out a review of the country's education laws. Security personnel dispersed the protesters and imprisoned a large number of the demonstrators.
Head of Algeria's National Union of Teachers Abdel-Karim Bou-Jenahy criticised the authorities for their "suppressive actions." He told Arabstoday that the government had been in breach of the Algerian constitution and laws which allow people to organise peaceful demonstrations.
Bou-Jenahy argued that the security officials had violated the social rights of hundreds of Algerian teachers, and confirmed that he would submit a complaint to the National Organisation of Human Rights and the Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.