Health & Education
From The Report: Algeria 2012
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With significant improvements in education over the past decade, Algeria now has a primary enrolment rate over 95% and has made considerable progress in eliminating illiteracy, the rate of which is now under 8% for those aged 15-24. However, with more than 70% of the population under the age of 30, the number of students entering the school system every year is expected to continue to rise. The private sector is also taking on an increasing role in providing specialised degrees and absorbing the rising number of higher education students. In health care, significant improvements have been made since independence and more are under way to increase access to quality services and align the sector with international standards. However, demographic growth, increased urbanisation and changes in lifestyles have resulted in a rise in chronic diseases. Therefore, Algeria will invest AD619bn (€5.94bn) under its five-year plan (2010-14) to improve health care access and quality, including upgrading existing hospitals and building specialised infrastructure.

This chapter contains interviews with Brahim Benabdeslem, Director, Algiers Management Development Institute (MDI); and Abdelaziz Ziari, Minister of Health, Population and Hospital Reform.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Hit the books: With the number of students set to expand rapidly, efforts are under way to modernise offerings
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With significant improvements in education over the past decade, Algeria now has a primary enrolment rate over 95% and has made considerable progress in eliminating illiteracy, the rate of which is now under 8% for those aged 15-24. However, with more than 70% of the population under the age of 30, the number of students entering the school system every year is expected to continue to rise. Primary and secondary cycles saw some 8.3m students enrol in the 2012/13 academic year. Therefore, the…

Analysis

High marks: Degrees are being targeted as a way to improve job prospects
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To address the high rate of youth unemployment and bring skills in line with international standards, Algeria’s government is looking to diversify degrees in tertiary education to meet the economy’s growing demands for skilled labour. To achieve its objective, the country is boosting partnerships with foreign institutions to diversify offerings. “The current educational system lacks a close understanding of the job market and private institutions could help to reduce the mismatch between…

Interview

OBG talks to Brahim Benabdeslem, Director, Algiers Management Development Institute (MDI)
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Interview: Brahim Benabdeslem How can foreign cooperation in education contribute the sector’s development? BRAHIM BENABDESLEM: The weakness of trade relationships between Maghreb countries is a real handicap with regard to growth and socioeconomic development. The potential of cooperation and creation of synergies is huge in the Maghreb, particularly in teaching and research. Maghreb countries, and especially Algeria, have invested heavily in training and it is time to institute mechanisms that…

Overview

The new normal: As rates of non-communicable diseases increase, a number of segments are targeted for expansion
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Significant improvements have been made since independence in Algerian health care and more are under way to increase access to quality services and align the sector with international standards. Health indictors have gotten better since the 1960s – overall life expectancy at birth has risen from 49 in 1962 to 76.3 in 2010. This can be explained by a fall in child mortality rates, improved maternal health, and increased access to medicine and health services. Consequently, the median age of…

Interview

OBG talks to Abdelaziz Ziari, Minister of Health, Population and Hospital Reform
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Interview: Abdelaziz Ziari How developed is the local biotech sector? ABDELAZIZ ZIARI: Biotechnology is still in its infancy in Algeria. While certain basic research projects are under way at the Pasteur Institute in Algeria and a few university hospitals, they are almost exclusively academic and not followed by a real valuation. In addition, in most cases no industrial applications have been made due to the lack of partnership with the manufacturing sector. However, the database of scientists…