Algeria endured severe political conditions during the French occupation, particularly in education. Education was essential to enlighten the minds of young people and therefore had to be extended throughout the country. As colonial control deepened, a group of educated Algerian notables became increasingly involved in educational affairs. They possessed considerable cultural knowledge. This study therefore addresses three themes: (1) the leading pioneers of education in Algeria; (2) the state of education under French occupation; and (3) the educational and cultural situation in colonial Algeria. It asks the following question: Who were the principal pioneers of education in Algeria, and how did the educated elite contribute to spreading knowledge and learning under French colonial rule?