# Language news, Tuesday, 20 October 2026

Compiled by Richard Brooks's language news desk. Canonical: https://richard-brooks.com/language-news/2026-10-20/

## Algeria bans foreign curricula in private schools, makes Arabic compulsory

Education. The French programme has been the private-school route to French universities for thousands of families, so this is language policy with Paris in mind. Leaving out Tamazight, official under the constitution since 2016, shows which language the state means by sovereignty.

Source: Journal officiel de la République algérienne (JORADP), https://www.joradp.dz/FTP/jo-francais/2026/F2026071.pdf

## French prefect takes 3 more Basque communes to court over Basque recognition

Policy. The state now contests symbolic votes in 8 Basque communes, and Pau's court has suspended the first 5 under Article 2. Follows the 6 Oct Dufau-Molac bill to amend that article.

Source: Mediabask, https://www.mediabask.eus/fr/info_mbsk/20261016/la-prefecture-attaque-la-deliberation-en-faveur-de-l-euskara-de-trois-nouvelles-communes