About teaching native language at school of Mari el and Mordovia (based on interview materials)

Abstract

The article presents the results of semi-structured interviews with public people ("opinion leaders") from the republics of Mari El and Mordovia on the issue of teaching native language at school. The similarity of the positions of respondents from different regions on this issue is noted: concern about the complexity of the procedure for licensing textbooks in the native language, the need for joint efforts of the state, family and school in maintaining and developing the languages of the titular nation, increasing the hours of the native (titular) language for deeper mastering it, the theoretical possibility of passing the Unified State Exam in the native language, but the complexity of implementing this in practice. In both republics, opinions on the voluntary/mandatory nature of learning the titular language were divided. In support of the obligation to study the language, the expediency of knowing it as the state language, as the language of the titular nation, was noted. In Mordovia, the need for respect for the culture of another people was also indicated as a reason.