OSCE: the Organization for Security and Cooperation,
appointed a High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) in 1992. OSCE is based
in Vienna and includes 57 participating states from Europe, Central Asia and
North America.
The
first HCNM was Max van der Stoel. Among other things, he focused attention on minority
education, in particular minority language education. He stated: "It is clear that education is an extremely
important element for the preservation and the deepening of the identity of
persons belonging to a national minority." In 'The Hague Recommendations
regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities', further details are
given about how to implement quality education for minority people. I have
copied a few of these recommendations in the attachment.
On
the website of the OSCE, an article is featured titled: 'Multilingual
education; Creating Equal chances for everyone.'
(Some
of) THE HAGUE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE EDUCATION RIGHTS OF NATIONAL
MINORITIES
1) The right of persons belonging to national minorities to maintain their identity can only be fully realised if they acquire a proper knowledge of their mother tongue during the educational process. At the same time, persons belonging to national minorities have a responsibility to integrate into the wider national society through the acquisition of a proper knowledge of the State language.
1) The right of persons belonging to national minorities to maintain their identity can only be fully realised if they acquire a proper knowledge of their mother tongue during the educational process. At the same time, persons belonging to national minorities have a responsibility to integrate into the wider national society through the acquisition of a proper knowledge of the State language.
8)
In accordance with international law, persons belonging to national minorities,
like others, have the right to establish and manage their own private
educational institutions in conformity with domestic law. These institutions
may include schools teaching in the minority language.
11) The first years of education are of pivotal importance in a child's development. Educational research suggests that the medium of teaching at pre-school and kindergarten levels should ideally be the child's language. Wherever possible, States should create conditions enabling parents to avail themselves of this option.
11) The first years of education are of pivotal importance in a child's development. Educational research suggests that the medium of teaching at pre-school and kindergarten levels should ideally be the child's language. Wherever possible, States should create conditions enabling parents to avail themselves of this option.
12)
Research also indicates that in primary school, the curriculum should ideally be
taught in the minority language. The minority language should be taught as a
subject on a regular basis. The official State language should also be taught
as a subject on a regular basis preferably by bilingual teachers who have a
good understanding of the children's cultural and linguistic background.
Towards the end of this period, a few practical or non-theoretical subjects
should be taught through the medium of the State language. Wherever possible,
States should create conditions enabling parents to avail themselves of this
option.
Source
by
Marianne Fast
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