Journal of Studies in Language, Culture and Society (JSLCS)
Volume 9, Numéro 2, Pages 265-283
2026-06-30
Representing The English Language In Algerian Education: A Critical Analysis Of El Khabar Newspaper Coverage
Authors : Kaddour-trea Asmaa .
Abstract
As English has become the global language of communication in science, politics, economics, technology, and education, Algeria has sought to adapt to these developments by reforming its educational system to introduce English as a foreign language to young learners at the primary schools. This study aims to examine the government policy of introducing English in primary education, particularly by analysing El Khabar, one of Algeria's most popular newspapers, and its online coverage of the policy to understand how it was reported with particular attention to the newspaper’s framing and evaluative stance. Using media content analysis, this study analysed 23 articles released online between 2019 and 2025 drawing on media framing theory and the concept of language policy as discourse. The findings show that El Khabar presented the English language as a symbol of globalisation and development, and as a shift towards reducing the dominance of French in the Algerian educational system. The newspaper framed the policy as an economic and institutional initiative, highlighting employment, investment, and coordination between public institutions and universities. The newspaper struck an equilibrium between endorsement and neutrality about the policy by making use of diverse genres of journalism, including news reporting, columns of opinion, feature reporting, and photojournalism. The information that was reported was taken from original sources, i.e., educational and professional personnel, students, parents, and overseas institutions, to add credibility to the authority of the newspapers as a mediator between the policymakers and the public, while drawing on practical and pedagogical knowledge. This study argues that El Khabar portrayed the English language policy as a decision that was not only about primary education but also about Algerian institutional reform and modernisation. This research offers recommendations to journalists, policymakers, and educators to enhance the successful implementation of the English language policy in primary education in Algeria.
Keywords
El Khabar; English language policy; language policy as discourse; media content analysis; media framing theory; primary education.
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