The impacts of marine debris is a big challenge. These impacts include entanglement and ingestion of marine animals, and they have been identified as a global problem. Plastics typically constitute the most important share of marine litter. As a result, plastic debris causes the deaths of large numbers of seabirds, as well as marine mammals. This problem is amplified in the case of semi-enclosed seas, like the Mediterranean.

To face this grave problem, it has been demonstrated that public awareness-raising on plastic pollution and its negative impacts, as well as the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling, is instrumental. Public awareness-raising is even more persuasive on young audiences, in particular on students. For these reasons, it is essential to sensitize this category of society through public schools.

In Algeria, at the beginning of the school year, the first course is dedicated to one particular topic provided to the three stages of Algeria national education system (primary, secondary and tertiary). By this voluntary commitment, the Ministry of National Education of Algeria intends to focus the inaugural course of the school year 2017/2018 on a topic entitled "Eco-Citizenship: Plastic Impacts on the Marine Environment". More than nine million students from the three stages of the school curriculum will be sensitized on the impacts of plastic pollution on the marine environment.

The Ministry of National Education is already engaged in environmental matters for many years, as it has a convention with the Ministry in charge of Environment. Together, they established so far 12.379 "Green Clubs" in schools across all parts of Algeria, with 267.421 member students. These Green Clubs aim at sensitizing on education and protection of environment, including through volunteering programs on the ground planned in close collaboration with students.