Abstract:

Postcolonial period in the countries that had been given a status of overseas regions and department of France (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, Mayotta French Guiana New Caledonia and French Polynesia) brought about significant changes not only in social and economic spheres but in the areas of language policy and education as well. Schools - teachers and students – in the overseas multilingual and multiethnic departments and regions of France are facing serious problems in the learning processes. France as one of the major former parent state according to its Constitution supports and develops solely French language as the only official language of France. France has signed but not ratified the European Charter for regional or minority languages thus demonstrating that priorities in the French language policy do not cover the interests of its regional languages. Overseas regions and departments of France are characterized by poor level of French, early leave from school, high level of illiteracy and as a result unemployment and other significant problems which are the issues France has to deal with nowadays. This paper considers the main problems connected with teaching French in schools and general educational policy in these multiethnic and multicultural states. The paper aims at analyzing current trends and approaches in language policy of France towards its overseas departments and regions.

Keywords:

Languages in former colonies, language policy, overseas regions of France.