Commission on the Preservation and Development of Tatar Language convened at Kazan University
The Commission’s first ever meeting was held by Rector Ilshat Gafurov on 11th August.
The discussion was attended by Head of the Office for Ethnic Policy of the Presidential Administration of Tatarstan Danil Mustafin, Head of the Office of Culture and Development of Languages of the Government of Tatarstan Lyaysan Nizamova, Head of the office for Ethnic Education of the Ministry of Education and Science of Tatarstan Liliya Akhmetzyanova, Director of the Institute of Tatar Encyclopedia and Regional Studies (Tatarstan Academy of Sciences) Iskander Gilyazov, Director of the Institute of Language, Literature and Arts (Tatarstan Academy of Sciences) Kim Minnullin, Director of the Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication (Kazan Federal University) Radif Zamaletdinov, and Dean of the Higher School of Ethnic Culture and Education (Kazan Federal University) Ramil Mirzagitov.
The Commission confirmed the establishment of four workgroups, one of which – in charge of the promotion of Tatar Language in education and science and language education – is to be headed by Rector Gafurov.
During yesterday’s meeting, the commissioners put forth a number of initiatives, including creating separate commission on the preservation of Tatar language under the Council of University Rectors of Tatarstan and the Council of Vocational School Principals of Tatarstan, widening the number of disciplines in Tatar language in curricula of various levels, and analyzing the system of training for ethnic education professionals.
Apart from that, they discussed further strengthening of pedagogical education for future teachers of multilingual schools and international internships for students specializing in Tatar studies and Turkic studies.
“I think there is a necessary groundwork for the event plan to start moving forward. Keeping in mind the opinions voiced today, we have to once again analyze and prepare a final draft of the plan,” commented the Rector.
The Commission on the Preservation and Development of Tatar Language was established in 2020 to solve the existing problems in language use, enhance teacher and translator education, promote best practices in language teaching, develop multilingual education, support creative efforts pertaining to language popularization, and strengthen publishing activities in Tatar language.
Source text: Leisan Zakirova
Photos: Maria Abrosimova
Translation: Yury Nurmeev
