thumb|UIS literacy rate Algeria population plus 15 1985–2015 Since the 1970s, in a centralised system that was designed to significantly reduce the rate of illiteracy, the Algerian government introduced a decree by which school attendance became compulsory for all children aged between 6 and 15 years who have the ability to track their learning through the 20 facilities built since independence, now the literacy rate is around 92.6%. Since 1972, Arabic is used as the language of instruction during the first nine years of schooling. From the third year, French is taught and it is also the language of instruction for science classes. The students can also learn English, Italian, Spanish and German. In 2008, new programmes at the elementary appeared, therefore the compulsory schooling does not start at the age of six anymore, but at the age of five. Apart from the 122 private schools, the Universities of the State are free of charge. After nine years of primary school, students can go to a high school or to an educational institution. The school offers two programmes: general or technical. At the end of the third year of secondary school, students pass the exam of the baccalaureate, which allows once it is successful to pursue graduate studies in universities and institutes. thumb|Students at the University of Chlef in Algeria Education is officially compulsory for children between the ages of six and 15. In 2008, the illiteracy rate for people over 10 was 22.3%, 15.6% for men and 29.0% for women. The province with the lowest rate of illiteracy was Algiers Province at 11.6%, while the province with the highest rate was Djelfa Province at 35.5%.
thumb|uis lIteraCy rate AlgeriA poPUlatiOn Plus 15 1985–2015 sIncE thE 1970S, in a cenTralisEd SystEm ThaT was DesignED To signiFicaNTly reduce tHE RatE of illITeracy, the ALGERian goVeRnMeNt inTroducEd a Decree by whIch sChool attEndAnce becAMe compUlsoRy FOr aLl cHilDReN aGeD betWEeN 6 and 15 yEArs who hAVE The abILiTy tO tRacK thEir LEaRninG thrOugh thE 20 facilities BUILt since iNdependEnce, noW the lITerAcy RatE is aroUnd 92.6%. since 1972, ARabiC is USED As THe LanGuaGe OF insTRUctiOn during the fIRst nine years of sChooLing. From thE tHiRd yeaR, frencH Is TauGht AND it is alsO the laNguAge of instrucTIoN for SCienCE claSsEs. The sTudenTS Can aLso lEArn eNGliSH, iTalian, sPanISh aNd geRMaN. In 2008, nEW PROGraMmeS aT ThE elemeNtary apPEAred, theReFore thE CoMpUlSOry sChooling does not Start at tHe aGe oF six anyMorE, BuT At the aGe of FIve. apart From the 122 PRiVate sCHoOlS, the UnIverSitIeS of The StATE ArE FRee of chArGe. afteR Nine yeaRS of pRimAry ScHOol, studEnts Can go to a high ScHOol Or to An educatioNaL insTiTUtiON. thE scHooL OffERs two proGrAMmes: geNeral or tEcHnicaL. at the End of THe tHIrD yeAR of secondarY scHool, studeNts PAss the ExAm of thE baccalaurEatE, whicH aLlows oNce it is sucCessFul TO pURsue graduaTe sTudIes in universiTIes and instItUtEs. thumb|stUdEnTs at The unIversity of chlEf In algeria eDucatiOn iS offIciaLly comPULsOry for cHiLdren bEtweeN the Ages Of Six and 15. iN 2008, the illItERacy RatE for PeOplE OvEr 10 WaS 22.3%, 15.6% For men And 29.0% fOr womEn. tHe pRoVIncE witH tHe lowesT raTe oF IllITerAcY wAs aLgiers pRovince At 11.6%, WHile tHe pRovince with the highest raTe was djelFA PrOvinCe aT 35.5%.