The modernization of primary schools is taking shape. The Ministry of National Education is poised to take a major step in the digital transition of the sector by rolling out electronic tablets in primary cycle schools nationwide. This initiative, announced by Minister Mohamed Seghir Saâdaoui, is set to be implemented by the end of this year and forms part of a strategy to lighten school bags and support the evolution of educational tools.
According to the minister, who spoke during a plenary session at the National People’s Assembly dedicated tto oral questions, this nationwide rollout is part of a national program backed by substantial financial resources, enabling the progressive equipping of primary schools with modern digital tools.
Intended for students in the third, fourth, and fifth years of the primary cycle, these tablets aim to replace paper textbooks, with the main goal of reducing the weight of school bags. The minister emphasized that these digital devices will not be used for pedagogical activities, such as completing exercises in class.
To date, 18% of primary schools have already been equipped. The sector head explained that the rollout requires several preparatory measures, including teacher training, classroom adaptations, identification of storage spaces within schools, and the establishment of ongoing technical protection to safeguard the equipment.
On the topic of infrastructure, the minister reaffirmed his department’s commitment to continuing the construction of new educational facilities. He described this as a major challenge for the education sector, which is also benefiting from significant public investments.
This digital transition is not new—it began during the 2022/2023 school year with pilot schools. In 2023/2024, 1,200 schools were involved, followed by 1,700 in 2024/2025. The goal is now clear: to generalize the use of digital tablets across all primary schools starting from the next school year.
It is worth recalling that the President of the Republic highlighted the pedagogical and economic benefits of introducing digital tools in schools. According to the head of state, these measures primarily aim to lighten students’ school bags, facilitate learning, and initiate a gradual shift beyond exclusively traditional teaching methods. The President also underscored the strategic importance of this project, stating that the widespread adoption of tablets represents a true lever for developing the national digital ecosystem, providing local startups with opportunities to gain market share and contribute actively to the national economy.