Kiyzassky Open-Pit Mine and Shoria Association produce Shor language textbook
The textbooks will be delivered to Kuzbass schools by the beginning of the next school year
The main work, including instruction on how to write the alphabet and texts for literary reading, has been completed and the layout for a first-grade textbook has been sent to the Enlightenment publishing house. It will appear in schools in the Kemerovo region by September 1, 2020.
“Preserving the native language is one of our main tasks,” says Nikita Shulbaev, president of the ‘Shoria’ association, a regional public organization in Kemerovo. “The language environment is melting away, so we are producing educational literature for the Shor language with help from Kiyzassky Open-Pit Mine. The company helped with organizational issues, chose a publishing house with extensive experience in producing national literature and textbooks for indigenous peoples, and also took care of all the expenses.”
The introduction of a new, modern textbook will increase interest in the Shor language and make it possible to include study of the native language and literature of indigenous people as a requirement in the main curriculum. This is currently only optional, since there are no Shor textbooks with the Ministry of Education’s stamp of approval.
“Having educational literature that is certified and in compliance with the strict requirements of the Federal Educational Standard is one of the conditions for studying native languages at school,” said Elena Tchaikovsky, head of the Center for Languages and Culture of the Peoples of Siberia. “We are able to undertake a large educational project like this thanks to the support of Kiyzassky Open-Pit Mine.”
Kiyzassky Open-Pit Mine is the only coal mining company that has signed an agreement on social and economic cooperation with the ‘Shoria’ association of the Shor people. As part of the partnership, the association organizes sports, cultural, and educational events for the indigenous population throughout Kuzbass.