Multilingual education standards and practices - the European perspective 4th International Language and Education Conference: Multilingual Education for ALL in Asia and the Pacific – Policies, Practices and Processes Elżbieta Kuzborska, PhD Bangkok, 6-8 November, 2013

National or ethnic minorities – 105 mln (14% of 770 mln Europeans)

General information on languages in global perspective AreaNumber of languages Percentage of world total Europe2303% The Americas (South, Central, North)1,01315% Africa2,05830% Asia2,19732% The Pacific1,31119% Dr. T. Skutnabb-Kangas, 2004

European perspective of multilingual education standards European standards in multiethnicity European standards in multiethnicity role of education in promoting intercultural dialogue and tolerance role of education in promoting intercultural dialogue and tolerance educational rights of national minorities educational rights of national minoritiesImplementation: Highly politicised Highly politicised Strong ideological connotations Strong ideological connotations Balance between the maintenance of the culture and identity and free integration in the society

Main regulations Principle of non-discrimination + special rights UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (art. 4) UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (art. 4) UN Convention Against Discrimination in Education (art. 5) UN Convention Against Discrimination in Education (art. 5) UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (art. 29) UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (art. 29) OSCE Copenhagen Document (par. 34) OSCE Copenhagen Document (par. 34) OSCE Hague Recommendations regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities OSCE Hague Recommendations regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities European bilateral treaties European bilateral treaties

European perspective – main regulations – The Union shall respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity EU Constitution – The Union shall respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages Council of Europe European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities - The Hague Recommendations regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities OSCE - The Hague Recommendations regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities „sufficient demand“, „areas inhabited traditionally / by significant number of nm“, „at the request from the community“, „justified“, „limited“

Disparate models of MLE Particular regulations are determined by country’s ethnic structure, socio-political landscape and historical background. Main challenge: Roma minority - special needs Roma minority - special needs

4 models of education in mother tongue in Europe IAll subjects are taught in national minority language. State language as a separate subject IIMost of the subjects are taught in national minority language, some of them in state language IIIMost of the subjects are taught in state language, some of them in national minority language IVOne school, 2 language streams

CountryMain characteristics PolandNo strong minority. II model. Liberal regulations RomaniaStrong Hungarian minority. I model, 3 faculties with Hungarian language of instruction in Romanian university (including faculty of medicine) LithuaniaStrong Polish and Russian minorities. IV model, I model changed into II SwedenSpecial attention to pre-school education in minority language FinlandTwo national languages, special attention to small minorities

Main recommendations To create and retain the balance between the use of the official language and the use of minority languages in education To create and retain the balance between the use of the official language and the use of minority languages in education To clarify legal norms and standards To clarify legal norms and standards To avoid linguistic genocide To avoid linguistic genocide

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