Norwegian Kven people are anxious about abolition of teaching native language in the University of Tromsø. However university management disclaims these statements, which were appeared on some Internet sites, says an Association of Norway Kven people.
“Counsil of the University of Tromsø made a decision on the part of university subjects will not be advertized for university entrants in 2012-2013 years. Among such “closed” chief subjects were found training for learning Finnish bachelors of languages and economics and a five-year programme for teachers of languages and social researches. But it does not mean that all courses of the Finnish and the Kven languages at the University of Tromsø will be canceled”. – said the supervisor of the linguistic department of the university Andre Merk.
“Till now at the university is preserved teaching of the Finnish language on two ministerial programs in the sphere of languages and literature. The soviet of the department of liberal and social arts in the February of this year supported the proposal about closing those programs. Dean of the department suggested in collaboration with academic community to find a problem solving, including creation an educational program with teaching the Finnish and Kven languages. Vacancies for this program will not be occupied while its results are not produced to the department Soviet. “We will try to keep workers of the department, who are set in a motion to prepare masters in Finnish an literature, also we will try to keep specialists in the Kven language”, - said A. Merk.
“The Kven language was included in the program of lifelong education at the university and nobody does not suggest solving a problem about stopping of its teaching. In connection with expected revision of educational program in Finnish we will put preparation specialist in the Kven language right”, - concluded A. Merk.