Language Policy in Mauritius: A Case for Pragmatic Pluralism

By Nita Chicooree-Mercier

Mauritius has recently drawn attention in Africa, Europe and the West Indian islands during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron. In his address, he highlighted the factors that helped Mauritius earn respect on the international stage and expressed gratitude to post-Independence leaders for maintaining the French language in the country. Beyond the renewable-energy investment announcement, however, very little was achieved that required a presidential visit. The triangular cooperation between India, France and Mauritius in defence training has existed for a decade and is hardly new. Still, Macron’s decision to respond to his Mauritian counterpart’s invitation offered positive international visibility for the island.

In India, Macron already enjoys favourable public opinion because of his rapport with Prime Minister Modi, and he is often playfully praised on social media for his appearance — an affectionate cultural quirk. Yet, in a tense global climate, efficiency cannot be measured by charm. Macron continues to face criticism at home, where opponents accuse him of benefiting from an overly sympathetic media landscape. Nonetheless, his youthful presence brought a certain freshness to the public scene.

French Language in Post-Independence Mauritius

More than 15 years ago, I met the daughter of an early post-Independence Mauritian political figure known for defending the place of French in the country’s education system. The language faced renewed attacks in the 1970s when a rising political movement sought to ban French in schools. Although the party grew popular among young people, its call to remove French never truly resonated beyond its core supporters.

At the time, some far-left groups framed languages through a Marxist lens — oppressor versus oppressed — casting French as a colonial relic and Kreol as the language of the proletariat needing ideological “protection.” But many Mauritians recognised the risks of this reasoning and dismissed the appeal to ban French. Meanwhile, Kreol’s promotion often followed a top-down, sporadically activist approach, shaped by political motives rather than organic development.

The political figure’s daughter spoke passionately about what could have been lost. Without French, Mauritians would have faced limited access to French universities and fewer opportunities to migrate or work abroad at a time when the local economy offered limited prospects. Moreover, France played a key role in securing EU funding for Mauritius.

The Mauritian Example

Revisiting these old debates reminds us of the importance of sound policymaking grounded in pragmatism and long-term thinking. Mauritius did not yield to ideological fervour or youth-driven pressure. By contrast, Madagascar and Seychelles banned French in the mid-1970s, driven by resentment and revolutionary rhetoric. Both later spent more than four decades reversing the damage and reintegrating French into their educational systems to regain access to global opportunities.

Mauritius avoided this fate because its leadership upheld principles of pluralism, inclusiveness and long-term national interest. They resisted narratives fuelled by prejudice or attempts to weaponize language and ethnicity. Without this steadiness, Mauritius might have followed the troubled paths of Madagascar, Communist-era Seychelles, Haiti, Barbados and similarly affected island nations.

Young Mauritians today should be aware of these ideological shifts in the country’s political past. Understanding this history helps them resist sensationalism, hollow slogans and manipulation by media outlets with unclear agendas.

Language, Identity and Pragmatism

French remains a sensitive topic in Mauritius due to its early association with the press and certain social groups who used it — sometimes condescendingly — to distinguish themselves. Yet over the past two decades, French no longer dominates intellectual debate, as English increasingly asserts itself as an inclusive and universally recognised medium.

A final point worth exploring: Why do France’s DOM-TOM territories, many of which identify as Creole societies, not use Kreol in regional assemblies or educational institutions? Kreol appears mainly in advertising and informal media, often as a gesture of cultural balance rather than a shift in official practice. Past attempts to introduce Kreol as a school subject gained little traction because parents did not see practical benefits.

A mother tongue is inherently tied to ancestral culture, which differs from a widely shared national language. This distinction is often overlooked in Mauritius. Past political figures defended the teaching of French with clear arguments, yet it is striking that few others advocated as forcefully for the promotion of oriental languages. Much remains to be done to reduce confusion, foster understanding and cultivate positive attitudes toward the country’s diverse linguistic heritage.

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 28 November 2025