Language Policy and Education Outcomes in Multilingual Senegal: A Comparative Study

Language policies in education have a significant impact on educational outcomes in multilingual African states, such as Senegal, where multiple indigenous languages coexist with French and Wolof. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data from standardised test scores and qualitative interviews with educators and parents to analyse the impact of various language policies across Senegal's public education system. Findings indicate that a bilingual policy incorporating local languages alongside French results in higher literacy rates compared to monolingual French-only approaches, particularly among younger students (aged 6-12). The study supports the implementation of multilingual education policies as an effective strategy for improving educational outcomes in Senegalese schools. Educators and policymakers should consider adopting bilingual or multilingual curricula to enhance language acquisition and academic achievement among students from diverse linguistic backgrounds.