Prof. Maria Stoicheva, PhD,
Ekaterina Stanova, PhD student
Sofia University
https://doi.org/10.53656/bel2024-1-1M
Absract. This article presents theoretical aspects of language policy in the education of young people in multinational states, drawing on the experience of the Republic of Moldova. An emphasis is placed on the interaction between language and state education policy, clarifying the legal framework in the multinational state in question. The opportunities different ethnic groups, which historically live on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, have with regard to studying their mother tongue in the country‘s schools are outlined.
In order to look for opportunities to implement a language policy in accordance
with the new educational realities in European countries, a study is organized in
the Republic of Moldova, and part of the results are presented in the article. The
obtained empirical data on attitudes to language learning expressed by students
of various ethnic origins give reason to conceptualize the idea of implementing
multilingual learning models in the educational system of the Republic of Moldova. These results provide important guidelines about continuing studies in this direction and about developing language policies in the field of education.
Keywords: language policy; educational policy; multinational country; multilingualism; multilingual education; attitude to studying languages