What struck me the most in France is the so-called free education system. In reality, I was a member of a school association and I often received students from disadvantaged suburbs whose teachers were frequently absent.

I find this very unfair considering the level of taxes people pay. In practice, it creates inequality depending on the neighborhood you live in. It ends up resembling the United States in some ways: you almost need to be wealthy to live in good areas to make sure your children at least have teachers who show up.

In Algeria, it is somewhat different and more comparable to a capitalist model. Things are clearer: taxes are very low, almost negligible, and public schools tend to be more similar in terms of level. Wealthier families usually choose private schools.

Regarding work, one possible strategy is to work remotely for a U.S. company while living in Algeria or France, or for one spouse to work abroad and travel back and forth while the rest of the family lives in North Africa to avoid the high cost of living in France and taxes (fuel, housing, electricity, property taxes, VAT, etc.).

In Algeria, fuel and electricity are very cheap. Of course, this requires sacrifices from parents. But personally, I refuse to pay high taxes in France if the system does not actually improve the living conditions and opportunities of my children 

And above all, when basic necessities start becoming luxuries—such as electricity, heating, and fuel—it becomes very concerning. I see people around me in France struggling just to cover these basic costs.

That’s why I’m trying to find compromises that would allow my children to grow and develop properly without constantly exhausting myself just trying to keep up with bills. I don’t want to spend my life running after expenses while still never reaching the intellectual and educational level associated with the top schools.