Editing Mauritius (section)

=== Languages ===
{{Main|Languages of Mauritius}}

The [[Constitution of Mauritius|Mauritian constitution]] makes no mention of an [[official language]]. It only mentions that the official language of the National Assembly is [[English language|English]]; however, any member can also address the chair in [[French language|French]].<ref name="language">{{Cite web|title=Constitution of Mauritius – 49. Official language|url=http://mauritiusassembly.govmu.org/English/constitution/Pages/Constitution-Contd1.aspx#assembly|access-date=11 November 2017|website=[[National Assembly (Mauritius)|National Assembly]]}}</ref> English and French are generally considered to be de facto national and common languages of Mauritius, as they are the languages of government administration, courts, and business.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Language|url=http://www.govmu.org/English/ExploreMauritius/Geography-People/Pages/Language.aspx|access-date=11 November 2017|website=Government of Mauritius|archive-date=21 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521095341/http://www.govmu.org/English/ExploreMauritius/Geography-People/Pages/Language.aspx}}</ref> The constitution of Mauritius is written in English, while some laws, such as the [[Civil code|Civil]] and [[Criminal code]]s, are in French. The Mauritian currency features the [[Latin script|Latin]], [[Tamil script|Tamil]] and [[Devanagari]] scripts.

The Mauritian population is [[multilingual]]; while [[Mauritian Creole]] is the [[mother tongue]] of most Mauritians, most people are also fluent in English and French; they tend to switch languages according to the situation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://peoplemauritius.blogspot.com/|title=People and languages on Mauritius}}</ref> French and English are favoured in educational and professional settings, while Asian languages are used mainly in music, religious and cultural activities. The media and literature are primarily in French.

The [[Mauritian Creole language]], which is [[French-based creole languages|French-based]] with some additional influences, is spoken by the majority of the population as a native language.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Demographics|url=http://mauritiusgovernment.com/demographics.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425080648/http://mauritiusgovernment.com/demographics.htm|archive-date=25 April 2012|access-date=7 November 2013|publisher=mauritiusgovernment.com}}</ref> The Creole languages spoken in different islands of the country are more or less similar: [[Mauritian Creole]], [[Rodriguan creole]], [[Agalega creole]] and [[Chagossian creole]] are spoken by people from the islands of Mauritius, [[Rodrigues]], [[Agaléga]] and [[Chagos]]. The following ancestral languages, also spoken in Mauritius, have received official recognition by acts of parliament:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://adsdatabase.ohchr.org/IssueLibrary/MAURITIUS_Contribution%20to%20A_HRC_46_27.pdf|title=Inputs on Human Rights Council Resolution 46/27 on Combatting intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons, based on religion or belief|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade (Human Rights Division)|access-date=14 July 2023}}</ref> [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bhojpuri-Speaking Union Act – 2011|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/Bhojpuri%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202011.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> [[Chinese language|Chinese]],<ref name="chinese act">{{Cite web|title=Chinese-Speaking Union Act – 2011|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/Chinese%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202011.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> [[Hindi]],<ref name="Hindi act">{{Cite web|title=The Hindi-Speaking Union Act – 1994|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/The%20Hindi%20Speaking%20Union%20%20Act%201994.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> [[Marathi language|Marathi]],<ref name="marathi act">{{Cite web|title=Marathi-Speaking Union Act – 2008|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/Marathi%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202008.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> [[Sanskrit]],<ref name="sanskrit act">{{Cite web|title=Sanskrit-Speaking Union Act – 2011|url=https://culture.govmu.org/Pages/Legislations/Sanskrit%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202011.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> [[Tamil language|Tamil]],<ref name="tamil act">{{Cite web|title=Tamil-Speaking Union Act – 2008|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/Tamil%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202008.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> [[Telugu language|Telugu]]<ref name="telegu act">{{Cite web|title=Telugu-Speaking Union Act – 2008|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/Telugu%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202008.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> and [[Urdu]].<ref name="urdu act">{{Cite web|title=The Urdu-Speaking Union Act – 2002|url=http://culture.govmu.org/English/Documents/legislations/The%20Urdu%20Speaking%20Union%20Act%202002.pdf|access-date=20 January 2019|publisher=Ministry of Arts and Culture}}</ref> [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], once widely spoken as a mother tongue, has become less commonly spoken over the years. According to the 2022 census, Bhojpuri was spoken by 5.1% of the population compared to 12.1% in 2000.<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="2011census">{{Cite web|author-link=Statistics Mauritius|title=2011 Population Census – Main Results|url=http://statsmauritius.govmu.org/English/CensusandSurveys/Documents/ESI/pop2011.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111152858/http://statsmauritius.govmu.org/English/CensusandSurveys/Documents/ESI/pop2011.pdf|archive-date=11 November 2017|access-date=11 November 2017|website=Statistics Mauritius}}</ref>

School students must learn English and French; they may also opt for an Asian language or Mauritian Creole. The medium of instruction varies from school to school but is usually English for public and government subsidised private schools and mainly French for paid private ones. [[GCE Ordinary Level|O-Level]] and [[A-Level]] Exams are organised in public and government subsidised private schools in English by [[Cambridge Assessment International Education|Cambridge International Examinations]] while paid private schools mostly follow the [[Baccalauréat|French Baccalaureate]] model.