Language attitudes in Morocco following recent changes in language policy

Abstract

This article reports on a study of language attitudes conducted among high school students and teachers in Khouribga, a town in central Morocco, in December 2002, following changes in government language policy outlined in the Charter for Education and Training, 2000. The paper gives a brief background to the sociolinguistic situation in Morocco, and the language policy pursued since Independence in 1956, and outlines the changes proposed in the Charter. It then turns to the findings of the study, focusing on attitudes towards French, Arabic and bilingualism. Both students and teachers appear to be widely in favour of a return to Arabic—French bilingualism within the education system, and approve decisions to introduce foreign languages at an earlier stage in the curriculum. Views on the benefits of Arabization are mixed, but there is a general consensus that Morocco will benefit from increased bilingualism.