The motive power in Algeria's national educational system has been and still remains the ideological force of the Algerian revolution. After independence was won, a dramatic increase in school enrollments (resulting from decentralization) intensified the need for more teachers, better facilities and materials, new curricula, oriented to national socialist goals, and long-range educational planning for leadership training and resource development. The national educational priorities are: (1) teaching Arabic and the "Algerianization of the curricula; (2) literacy and adult education; (3) promotion of general, agricultural and vocational instruction in rural areas; (4) education for girls and women, and assistance in the emancipation of women; (5) promotion of the teaching of science and technology; and (6) relating the school to life. But reforms within the educational system have shown that the system is not equipped to carry out its own revolution by itself. A large part of the responsibility for education is being placed in a new sector in the social environment--out-of-school education--which provides literacy education, "second chance" courses, and basic technical training. But if this approach is to be successful, it must be provided with the ability to break down psychological barriers to change in education. Direct experience of the contradictions inherent in the educational system has bred the conviction that action to promote lifelong education is necessary. (KM)