Languages in Comoros

Shikomori, also written shiKomori, is the national and official language of Comoros. Its island varieties include shiNgazidja, shiNdzuani and shiMwali. French and Arabic are also official languages. Under the 2014 language law, Arabic and French are used together in state and company documents, and each ministry or institution is expected to have at least one Arabic-capable specialist. At home and in everyday interaction, Shikomori is usually dominant and is used mainly orally. Children may encounter palashiyo, a local form of early religious and language instruction, as well as madrasa or Koran teaching. These forms teach the Arabic alphabet and Koran reading, but they are generally informal or non-formal and do not follow one national curriculum or examination system. Formal education uses French as the central teaching and written language. Arabic may be taught additionally or through bilingual religious and school programs. The Université des Comores uses French and Arabic in its teaching. Shikomori materials for preschool education are being developed through current education projects. French courses are available through public and private schools and through providers such as Alliance Française de Moroni. The Alliance Française offers courses for children, adolescents and adults, uses a placement test, and commonly provides general French courses of 44 to 66 hours held two or three times per week. A session commonly costs 22,000 to 33,000 KMF. Adult literacy courses can cover 132 hours over three sessions with two lessons per week and a listed fee of 22,000 KMF. French for specific purposes, known as FOS, is arranged for groups such as teachers, employees, civil servants and tourism workers, with the schedule and scope agreed with the provider. Reliable evidence for a broad general market of other foreign-language courses is limited. Alliance Française de Moroni is an accredited examination centre for French. DELF and DALF examinations are normally offered in three sessions per year, while TCF is available on request. Candidates may register through a course or as independent candidates. Listed fees range from 10,000 KMF for DELF A1 or A2 through Alliance Française to 30,000 KMF for an independent candidate; DELF B1 costs 12,000 or 35,000 KMF, and DELF B2 costs 14,000 or 40,000 KMF. DALF C1 and C2 cost 16,000 or 45,000 KMF. DELF and DALF certificates remain valid for life. Registration requires identification, compliance with deadlines and examination rules. The available evidence does not show a state-standardized Shikomori certificate or a separate standardized Arabic certificate. ORELC dictation provides non-formal Shikomori language practice; its listed 2026 fee is 4,000 KMF. Language choice affects work and daily life. Shikomori supports family communication, local identity and ordinary interactions. French is directly useful in school, administration, formal employment and mobility. Arabic matters for religion, bilingual education, official written communication and study links with the Arab world. Competence in one or more of these languages can therefore affect access to education, public services and employment. Digital learning is available but depends on devices, electricity, connectivity and shared family phones. e-Shiyo provides free official primary-school books through Android, iOS and the web. e-Msomo supports school administration, registration and grades but is not a language course. ORELC and LUHA provide digital shiKomori lessons, dialect material, a dictionary, a conjugator and a keyboard. K@LIMA is a historical French-Shikomori resource. Public and religious learning forms may have different fees and schedules, and no uniform national cost can be inferred for them.