Education law permits instruction and training in the official and national languages. State educational access covers the ages of 6 to 16, and linguistic equality is one of the principles of the education system. French dominates public schooling. The Education Sector Development Framework (SDEF) 2021–2035 introduces Arabic and English as foreign languages from the third year of primary school and gradually develops the system towards multilingual education. Bilingual schools combine Arabic and French. In preschool, the 2024 guide initially provides for Somali or Afar, followed by read-aloud activities, basic language skills and French. Arabic and French also play a central role in school examinations. The lower-secondary certificate examination (BEF) covers the language or languages of instruction, mathematics and natural sciences; in bilingual classes, French and Arabic are examined. Regular admission requires completion of ninth grade and a minimum age of 15 on 31 December; external candidates must demonstrate a comparable level. The examination takes place once a year, and the fee is set by decree. The transition to technical education also assesses French, Arabic and mathematics. For adults, the National Strategy for Functional Literacy 2024–2029 provides a state framework under the Ministry of Women and Family. French, Somali or Afar may be used depending on need, but standardised course durations and fees have not been established nationwide. Somali and Afar facilitate communication in everyday life and with families, but formal standard offerings in these languages remain limited. The French Institute of Djibouti (Institut français de Djibouti) offers French as a foreign language in group and individual courses, as well as preparation for the French language diploma (DELF), the advanced French language diploma (DALF) and the French evaluation test (TEF). Oral placement is used to assign learners to a course and is not a certificate. A private course costs 6,000 Djiboutian francs (FDJ) per hour, initial registration costs 6,000 FDJ, and the manual and workbook (Manuel plus Cahier) cost 5,250 FDJ; children and students may receive a registration fee of 3,000 FDJ. Access to these offerings is in practice concentrated in Djibouti City (Djibouti-ville). Arabic and English instruction exists mainly in schools; a uniform extracurricular course structure for the whole country has not been documented. Through education.dj and a provider of education resources (CRIPEN), connected and offline-capable digital school offerings are available, including interactive textbooks for different levels and use on tablets. These offerings support school instruction but do not replace an independent national language certificate. For work, administration and mobility across regions, French remains particularly relevant; Arabic also has a strong position because of its official status and place in schooling. English is growing through curriculum development and offerings associated with refugee schools, but it has no official status.
Languages in Djibouti
Arabic and French are official languages in Djibouti; Somali and Afar are national languages. French shapes formal education, administration and mobility, while Somali and Afar have major practical importance in everyday life, families, preschool settings and inclusion. Arabic combines official status with school-based and private learning routes; English is becoming more important in education but is neither an official nor a national language. Language learning takes place in schools, literacy programmes, individual courses and digital school offerings, not through a single nationwide adult network.
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