With an estimated 22,000 holders of doctorates unemployed and 64,000 doctoral students risking the same fate, the Algerian National Council of Teachers in Higher Education (ANCTHE) is concerned that things are only going to get worse.
Young activists such as Ismahane Addouane, threatened with joblessness, are calling on senior office holders at universities to hurry up and retire.
“It is not normal that someone aged 75 continues to head a department after more than 20 years,” Ms Addouane said.
“They must retire and write books or carry out research,” she said.
However, President of the ANCTHE, Abdelhafid Milat backed away from the prospect of generational conflict.
“On the contrary, the younger generation need to benefit from the immense experience of older professors,” Mr Milat said.
Meanwhile, Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research, Abdelbaki Benziane said he had signed an agreement with the Ministry for Employment to recruit doctorate holders in economic institutions and public administration.
“This work, the result of long consultations, aims to guarantee the employability of PhD holders in a number of Ministries, including Interior, Employment and Energy,” Mr Benziane said.
“I have also given an assurance that my Department is going to assign 1,655 assistant teaching posts and more than 400 posts for graduate teacher assistants,” he said.
However, many doctoral and teaching graduates have problems finding a job in public institutions because of the non-recognition of their degrees and often, a Public Service salary classification which does not correspond with their qualifications.
Algiers, 2 October 2021
