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Valery Khatazhukov: "The issue of learning native languages needs to be addressed"

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Valery Khatazhukov: "The issue of learning native languages needs to be addressed"

21.02.2014

International Mother Language Day, celebrated at the initiative of UNESCO on February 21, is anticipated with anxiety in Kabardino-Balkaria. The reason is the local draft legislation "On Education" passed by the regional legislature in a first reading in September 2013. Among other things, the bill proposes to introduce the mandatory learning of native languages for their speakers from grades 1st to 4th. There are proposals to introduce the teaching of other subjects in the native language until the fourth and even the seventh grades. The project opponents and adherents are divided into three camps. Some support the draft bill, others insist on native languages to be learned till the seventh grade; the third group, on the contrary, believe that the learning of native languages at schools must be a solely voluntary matter. Head of Kabardino-Balkar Human Rights Protection Center, Valery Khatazhukov, shares his thoughts on the linguistic disputes in his interview for the Russkiy Mir.  

— To which of the three above-mentioned groups do you belong?

— I am a champion of mandatory teaching in a native language in Kabardino-Balkar schools and this must be reflected in the local law. The latter should stipulate, as I see it, that the learning of Kabardinian and Balkar languages as native ones for KBR must be obligatory, as is the learning of Russian, mathematics, physics or physical fitness. For we are talking today about the diversity of cultures and a multitude of national cultures; moreover we claim at the government level that the multitude of cultures is Russia's strength, rather than weakness. Then why shifting the learning of Kabardinian and Balkar languages to the family alone? Conservation of only oral tradition or spoken native languages impoverishes them and gradually leads to their extinction.

— Are there any obstacles in Kabardino-Balkaria to the teaching of native Kabardinian and Balkar languages?

— Officially we speak in favor the free learning of native languages, but formal attempts to lay the responsibility of language conservation on the family alone contradicts the official target.

We have a bilingual republic and so teaching in the primary school must be conducted in two languages: Kabardinian and Balkar. For all that, the draft bill also suggests that Russian should be learned in parallel from the first grade as the national language and vehicle of international communication. After the fourth grade teaching should be conducted in Russian, but the native language, native literature and history of the region should also be learned as subjects in their own right.

— This is also proposed in the draft bill. But at the parliamentary hearing in January an amendment was suggested during the second reading: introducing the teaching in native languages till the seventh grade inclusive. What's your attitude towards this initiative?

— As the one worthy to be considered. Why not teaching in native languages till the seventh grade, but only for those who wish it? Or, unless the right size group is gathered, it could be done optionally and on individual subjects, such as the national literature and language. This will be real care for the native language and culture, not just nice statements or talks.

— But your republic is also populated with Russians, Turks and representatives of many other peoples of the Caucasus. Are they also obliged to learn the native languages of Kabardinians and Balkars?

— We are talking about the obligatory learning of native languages by native speakers. The schoolchildren of other nationalities must have an opportunity to learn these languages too, but only when their parents so desire. To my mind, knowing your neightbor's language won't hurt anybody, but no coercion!

— Local Cossack chief Igor Logvinenko believes that the learning of native languages must be voluntary. Is his position taken into account in the republic?

— Not everybody shares this view, his position is arguable. Conservation of ethnic languages and dialects is a task of national scope. Perhaps the learning of native languages by non-native speakers should not be mandatory in high school or at college. This is why the draft bill of the law "On Education" is being corrected. It's the same story as with English or other foreign languages. Whoever needs them learns them and speaks them with various fluency."

— Do you think there are chances for radical tranformation of the draft bill "On Education", as regards the mandatory learning of native languages?

— Is this radicalization, when different opinions are uttered in the course of parliamentary hearings of the regional law "On Education"? This is a normal creative process, mere polemics. Some even suggest the teaching of school subjects in native languages to the seventh grade. Others state consistent arguments against this approach. This is normal. I believe this public discussion is a proper way for the law of learning native languages to be developed — all opinions must be taken into account. As regards the issue of entering amendments to the law about the obligatory learning of KBR languages, a lot of discussions still lie ahead.

— When is the law’s adoption planned?

— The final third reading is scheduled for spring 2014.

Interviewed by Anna Loshchikhina

   
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