Early Graduation Rituals: A Sociological Analysis of Celebration Practices of the Primary Education Certificate in Algeria Through Digital Video Content

Abstract

This article examines the phenomenon of early graduation rituals among primary school pupils in Algeria as an emerging social practice that reflects transformations in perceptions of academic success and the functions of the school as an educational institution. The study aims to deconstruct the symbols and practices accompanying these rituals and to analyze their presence in the digital space, particularly on the “TikTok” platform, in order to better understand their symbolic and social dimensions.

The findings of the analysis show that these celebrations are not merely moments of collective joy; rather, they represent a symbolic reproduction of success in which the performative and consumerist dimensions intersect with the educational one. The child is granted symbolic capital that circulates through digital imagery. The study also reveals that these rituals constitute a dual response: on the one hand, they satisfy a social need for recognition and visibility; on the other, they compensate for a collective anxiety regarding the fragility of educational attainment.