1 Introduction

After invading Algeria in 1830, France implemented a 132 year colonial rule and pursued a policy of "assimilation" in an attempt to make Algeria French in politics, economy, culture, and other aspects. In the field of education, the French colonial government established "service-oriented" and "practical" higher education institutions to cultivate high-level talents. Although this policy provided a model for the development of modern higher education in Algeria, it also had complex impacts on Algeria's social and cultural aspects, including the infiltration or transformation of language, religion, and ideology, as well as the destruction of social structures. After independence, the influence of colonial culture still exists, with long-term effects on political systems, social structures, economic life, and other aspects. Domestic academic research on Algeria is mostly focused on politics, security, ethnicity, diplomacy, economy, and other aspects, with relatively little research on cultural and educational issues, especially the education system. Existing research mainly focuses on language policies and language literature, exploring the role of language education policies in alleviating ethnic conflicts, promoting ethnic unity, and maintaining social stability, as well as the evolution of language policies and language planning motivations. The development of language and literature in Algeria reflects the theme of opposing French colonial rule and supporting national liberation. The level of development of higher education is an important parameter for measuring the high-quality development of society. In depth examination of the development process of higher education in Algeria has historical reference significance for the reform of higher education in the post colonial era, and also helps to reflect on the problems and challenges faced by the internationalization of higher education in developing countries in the era of globalization, providing theoretical reference for China Africa education cooperation.

Overview of Traditional Education in Pre colonial Algeria

Before 1830, education in Algeria was closely linked to religion, mainly through Quranic schools and rabbinic schools, with Quranic recitation as the main focus, and only boys received education. Advanced education includes subjects such as religion, language, mathematics, and theology is dominant. Rural education facilities are outdated, but education in the Algiers region is relatively mature. The arrival of French colonizers disrupted the traditional education system, resulting in the death or displacement of teachers and scholars, as well as the destruction of libraries and learning facilities. In 1837, there were only 20-25 primary schools left in the Algiers region, and secondary schools almost disappeared. Colonial expansion exacerbated the rupture between the people and traditional culture.

The birth and development of higher education in Algeria during the colonial period

The birth and development of higher education in Algeria during the French colonial period went through a process from scratch. The French higher education system emerged from 1789-1860 and was formed from 1860-1914, characterized by high centralization, diverse educational models, and utilitarian educational objectives. With the expansion of French colonialism, the Algerian education system was influenced by the French model. During the French colonial rule from 1830 to 1962, the traditional educational foundation of Algeria was destroyed, and the French colonial authorities began to establish higher education institutions to meet the needs of their rule. The Medical School, established in 1833, was the first vocational education institution in Algeria and was only open to Europeans. The Algiers Preparatory School for Medicine and Pharmacy, established in 1857, is a representative of colonial medical schools, but it does not fall under the full scope of higher education. In 1877, French politician Paul Bell proposed a legal proposal to establish a higher education school in Algiers. In 1879, the "Law on Higher Education in Algeria" was passed, which stipulated the establishment of preparatory schools for legal, scientific, and literary education. In 1909, the four higher education institutions in Algiers were integrated into the first modern university in Algeria - the University of Algiers, which includes the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Law, and the Faculty of Literature, and can award higher education diplomas in multiple disciplines. In addition, other higher education institutions such as the Higher Business School, Algerian Agricultural School, and Algerian Institute of Technology have been established.

Characteristics of Higher Education in Algeria during the Colonial Period

During the French colonial period, higher education in Algeria had obvious colonial characteristics, mainly manifested in talent cultivation and discipline construction. In terms of talent cultivation, higher education institutions such as the University of Algiers mainly serve French immigrants and their descendants, with a very low proportion of Muslim students. In terms of disciplinary construction, higher education mainly revolves around the needs of colonial rule, such as the development of disciplines such as medicine, agriculture, and law, with the aim of cultivating the necessary talents for colonial governments. The curriculum of the School of Literature also reflects the colonizers' emphasis on Orientalism and Arabic studies.

The Influence of Higher Education in Algeria during the Colonial Period

The development of higher education in Algeria during the French colonial period had a profound impact on the country. The introduction of the French higher education model laid the foundation for the development of education in Algeria after independence. Although it disrupted traditional education, it brought about a systematic and formalized modern education system. Colonial universities inherited the teaching and research institutions of French universities, emphasizing pragmatic educational values. Colonial policies led to utilitarian teaching objectives, cultivating elite talents who served the French colonial government, some of whom became important forces for national independence and nation building. Despite gaining political independence, Algeria still has a dependency on France in terms of language, talent, knowledge, and modes of higher education. French is widely used as the language of instruction, and excellent teachers and students often choose France for further studies. France's higher education resources and research equipment are attractive to Algeria, and the higher education system and training model are also deeply influenced by France.

6 Conclusion

During the colonial period, Algerian higher education had a dual mission, aimed at providing education for French immigrants and serving colonial rule, while resources were limited for the local population. In 1954, the popularization rate of higher education in Algeria was extremely low. Colonial education cultivated a small number of local elites and played a positive role in national independence and nation building. After independence, the colonial education system made contributions to modernization, but cultural infiltration and interest considerations still exist. The colonizers cultivated "French style" talents through educational assimilation policies, leading Algeria to face the dilemma of social structure and cultural deficiency. The two countries cooperate in the field of higher education, but cultural colonization still persists. Algeria needs to adjust its higher education system in the face of the challenges of globalization, solve the problem of dependency, and give play to its autonomy and localization.