In Nalchik, philologists demand more hours for Kabardian language in schools

On December 21, the Kabardino-Balkarian State University (KBSU) hosted a scientific and practical seminar of teachers of the Kabardian language and literature. The event was attended by specialists, philologists, teachers, students of the KBSU's Philological Department, and NGO activists. This was reported by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent who attended the event.

At the seminar, Muayed Chechenov, a member of the NGO Coordinating Council, read out abstracts from the Constitution of the Russian Federation. He has emphasized the Constitution provides all the rights and opportunities for the preservation and development of languages. However, Muayed Chechenov has added that "the basic law is declared, but not observed."

In Kabardino-Balkaria, the Kabardian and Balkarian languages are state languages, but in fact they are not, Muayed Chechenov believes.

The seminar participants told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent what problems teachers of the Kabardian language encountered in schools.

A teacher of the Kabardian language from a Nalchik school, who preferred to remain anonymous, informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that starting from January 1, her school would replace native language lessons for pupils of the 10^th and 11^th forms with local area lessons. Besides, according to the teacher, hours of the Kabardian language lessons were reduced for all other schoolchildren. Instead of four hours, pupils of the 5^th and 6^th forms will have three hours per week, and pupils of the 10^th and 11^th forms two hours per week.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.