Education provisions in support of allophone students in France: policies, achievements and challenges

Abstract

Since 1970, French education authorities have put in place education provisions to address the education needs of the Elèves Nouvellement Arrivés en France (ENAF) [Students Newly Arrived in France]. They put in place a series of such and a range of policy frameworks (circulars and decrees) to legitimise the education provisions implemented in French schools. Despite considerable achievements, these were criticised for not adequately addressing the social and cultural needs of the allophone students. In 2012, the Unité Pédagogique pour les élevés Allophones Arrivants [Pedagogic Unit for newly arrived allophone students] – a centralised body – was created to streamline the multiple education provisions and introduce flexible classes in addition to the traditional ‘fixed’ education provisions offered to the allophone students. All these education provisions created since 1970 focus on providing French language to the allophone students so that they can transition into French mainstream education.