Algerian educators change dress code, flu prevention measures
2009-09-10
Education Minister Aboubekeur Benbouzid has announced a new strategy to shield Algerian students from the swine flu virus, among other changes.
By Hayam El Hadi for Magharebia in Algiers – 10/09/09
 [FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images] New measures to prevent the spread of swine flu will be implemented when Algeria's 8 million students return to class this year. |
The upcoming school year in Algeria will see a number of changes, including key measures to prevent the spread of swine flu and a new dress code.
Algerian educators' strategy to curb the spread of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus has two prongs, Education Minister Aboubekeur Benbouzid announced on Sunday (September 6th). The first prong, awareness-raising among students and teachers, will include lessons in personal hygiene. The second prong, which will only be needed if swine flu cases reach a high number, involves school closures coupled with distance learning via television, radio, and the internet. However, the distance learning would only apply to examination-year classes.
Teachers, parents and students had a largely positive response to the new measures, which will begin on Sunday, when students of all ages return to class.
"Before these measures were announced, I was wondering what we'd tell our students about swine flu," said Mohamed, a secondary school teacher in Algiers. "We're not doctors, but we have a role to play in making people aware."
"Now that we're going to work in partnership with the health ministry, we'll get the information we need to pass on to our students so that we can prevent the virus from spreading," he added.
"We've heard it said that autumn is a time when the virus will spread," said Ilhem, whose son is starting his first year of secondary school. "It's very worrying, because when you have large numbers of people together, it doesn't help. Despite these measures, which are certainly needed, I'm still worried about my children."
For his part, her son Hakim seemed delighted to start secondary school but relatively unaware of the problem.
"On television, there's a lot of talk about swine flu," he said. "I know that if you're ill, you need to avoid hugging or kissing people, and you should keep away from others. But even so, I'm not all that worried."
The steps to stop swine flu are not the only changes to be introduced this school year. In addition to the changed weekend and the new public health measures, the education ministry has announced changes to the dress code.
Minister Benbouzid sent out a letter to senior school staff at the end of the last school year stating that, for the 2009-10 school year, primary-school girls will wear pink smocks, and middle-school and secondary-school girls must wear white smocks. Boys will wear blue tunics in both primary and secondary school.
Parents have had a mixed response to this decision.
"I think it's an attack on parents' freedom," one mother, Nouara, told Magharebia. "I think I should have the right to decide what colour smock my daughter will wear."
"Anyway, I don't like pink," she added. "Why should she have to wear pink, just because she's a girl? But I don't have any choice. I'll go along with the ministry's decision, but I don't like it."
Djaafar, who has an eight-year-old son in school, disagreed.
"It's a good decision to make the colour the same for everyone," said the parent. "I'd like them to go further and introduce a compulsory uniform for schoolchildren. That would put an end to social discrimination."
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SAN Posted 2009-09-11
We are talking about the H1N1 flu one of the mildest disease ever. It is true it might mutate and become deadlier but for the moment it kills less than the seasonal flu. I believe that in a country where there exists other form of deadlier diseases, the emphasis should be put on hygiene, water sanitation and fighting a myriad of other more harmful viruses. Algeria still suffers from outbreaks of cholera and even from time to time plague. I had the H1N1 flu and it’s like a normal flu, only difference my body was not used to it but it prevailed as with seasonal flu. We are blowing this out of proportion diverting attention and means from a health sector already ill-equipped and stretched and stigmatising possible victims of the disease. Most of the world had had the same reaction but faced with the reality most have toned down their language but kept being active in limiting its propagation.
يوسف Posted 2009-09-12
I don't know why does the minister consider such idle matters? The problems of education in Algeria are more important than occupying our thoughts with such things. He knows there are more important issues worrying pupils especially in the primary and secondary about the long curriculum. I am a student in the secondary and I think you shouldn't preoccupy us with such idle matters.
هشام Posted 2009-09-12
Salam alikum. You are very distinct.
maghrebtoday.blogspotcom Posted 2009-09-12
Thank you so much, dear administrators at the lovely Maghrebia.com website. We are republishing some of your articles in order to attract as many readers from our countries in the United Arab Maghreb. -Thank you once again
khel Posted 2009-09-12
salam alakom , mashallah at last an attempt to educate re hygine so important as a human being and more so as muskims , unchallah this will go hand in hand with social education , ie laws prohibitting the dymping of rubbish , of building on public highways , of proper drinking fountains being put in public places to avoid people drinking fron one cup from a street vendor also in health clinics hospitals ect , unshallah the children will be encouraged to plant trees and taught there value salams for now
امنية Posted 2009-09-13
I am a student in the secondary. The decision of the minister of education about the colour of smocks is positive because it will put an end to discrimination. As to swine flu, we must be careful and maintain personal hygiene.
مريم Posted 2009-09-19
I am a student in high school. I don't agree with the minister about school hours from 8 to 12 and from 1 to 5 because the student cannot grasp well. As to high heels and make-up, I agree with him so that they will be more serious.
ايمان Posted 2009-09-19
I am a student in the elementary. I don't agree with them because I don't like grey. Why don't they use the white because I don't see any importance in changing the colour meaning the pink colour you adopted.
مريم Posted 2009-09-20
Please publish opinions we have posted quickly.
فاطمة Posted 2009-09-21
I am a student at high school. I agree with the minister of education about the official school uniform, banning make-up and short trousers. This makes people equal. As for school hours, I find this very difficult because it doesn't help the student to learn. This makes students especially at high school who have an intensive programme lose their energy in the middle of the school year.
دمورنيا Posted 2009-09-24
I don’t agree with this opinion. I don’t care about the colour, but why do we have to wear them to the knees, with long sleeves and white. Now everyone in the streets laugh at us. Humans and students should have freedom to choose their clothes. Anyway, we only have to follow rules.
عبد المعين ثابت Posted 2009-09-27
In the name of God the Beneficent the Merciful. Unifying colours eliminates social disparities and unites pupils. The most important is the intensive and hard scheduling, sitting on chairs for a long time which limits movement and freedom. This causes boredom and clashes between pupils and teachers. I suggest that there will be a reconsideration of scheduling in the interest of pupils.
خولة Posted 2009-10-07
Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you. I speak in the name of all students not my voice alone. We don't support the current hour schedule from 8 to 12 and 1 to 3 in the afternoon. This timing doesn't suit all students. Why does our minister not consider to the conditions of students who live in villages and those who live in a remote district in the absence of transport means? I want to inform you that we the students of the Sahara exactly Ouargla-Tiguert, school of prince Abdelkader, although the ministry decided that there will be no courses on Tuesday, we, of all institutes study. We ask for the change of this timing which is totally inadequate. Thank you.
عائشة Posted 2009-10-09
I am a student at high school. I liked the law so much especially for girls, make-up, tip trousers, accessories and high heels. She seems to be going to a wedding, not to school as that attracts attention to her on streets. This will make her take care more of her studies like in other countries.
نادية Posted 2009-10-09
I agree with the minister for taking the decision firstly for discrimination, then because our look shows we are going to school and thirdly prevention from swine flu. As to the colour, it is the same white. Thank you because you have offered us an opportunity to express our opinions. I hope you will show us our opinions quickly.
وفاء Posted 2009-10-09
I am a student in the secondary. I agree with the decision of the minister especially for girls: long sleeve-smocks to the knees for decency. Thank you.
بلقاسم Posted 2009-10-09
I am a student at high school. I don't agree with the decision of the minister on blue smocks because now they make comments on us on the streets and make fun of us. But we will get used and they will get used to us. Thank you.
شهر زاد Posted 2009-10-10
I don't know why all this astonishment about the school dress and class hours because all countries in the world impose a dress, on Friday and Saturday there is school for economic reasons.
bac 2010 Posted 2009-10-21
I am a student in the baccalaureate. Concerning the smocks, I have no problem, but the schedule of studies is not good at all. I live far away. At noon, I have to stay at the high school without breakfast. In the morning, I have to bring all the books for the whole day. We finish school at 5.30 p.m. When I reach home, I'm worn out. To sum up, the minister hasn’t done something good. The timing schedule is 0/10.
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