A new working group at the Slovak Ministry of Education will be dedicated to developing teaching of Rusyn Language and Culture
Originally published 11 July 2016 — Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic
Continuing the work of the Government Program for the year 2016, the Ministry of Education set up a working group, which will be led by state secretary Peter Krajňák to work in the area of policy support to national minorities. Its first meeting was opened by Minister of Education Peter Plavčan.
The aim of the working group is to develop the Concept of development of teaching Rusyn language and culture in kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools in the Slovak Republic. Its members are experts in the Rusyn language field. At the inaugural meeting, members of the working group focused in particular on the joint identification of key issues in the teaching of the Rusyn language, with the examples of textbook policy, lack of students, collaboration with school principals, motivation and awareness of students about the teaching of the Rusyn language. The chairman of the working group became Mgr. Marek Gaj; its members are — Prof. Anna Plišková, PhD. (Prešov University), PhDr. Ľuba Kráľová, PhD. (OZ Kolysočka — NGO Cradle), Mgr. Miloš Stronček (St. George Parochial Elementary School in Svidník), Mgr. Marcela Ruňaninová (Kalná Roztoka Elementary School), Mgr. Monika Siriková (Čabiny Elementary School), Mgr. Iveta Melničáková (Comenius Elementary School, Medzilaborce), PhDr. Kvetoslava Koporová (Prešov University), Mgr. Vladimíra Palfiová (Education Department, Prešov Autonomous Region), PhDr. Anna Bohmerová (Education Department, Prešov Region), and Mgr. Anna Kuzmiaková (Rusyn Revival in Slovakia). The next meeting of the working group is planned for the second half of September.
Rusyns are an indigenous population of Slovakia, which occupies a compact area in the Carpathian mountains. The Rusyn language was codified on 27 January 1995. The Rusyns are currently reported, according to the latest census, as 33,000 citizens of Slovakia, and 55,000 inhabitants reported Rusyn as their first language. Most members of this minority live in the Prešov region.
Translated by Maria Silvestri.
