Native language preservation program introduced in North Ossetia

The authorities of North Ossetia will issue 1.736 million rubles for realization of the republic's ‘Ossetian language’ program, Interfax reports.

The program will stay in force until 2012 and is aimed at helping preserve the national language, the Minister of Education and Science of North Ossetia Valeriy Sozanov said. The program involves formation of working groups to develop sub-programs to train and retrain teachers of Ossetian language and literature for the national school and the development of scientific research based on teaching of Ossetian language and literature.

The program will also include measures of promotion of the national language and culture of the Ossetian people in the mass media, Sozanov said. Next year they plan contests for the best literary and musical works for children in the Ossetian language. There will be school trips and camps with a national-cultural emphasis. There are plans to dub popular cartoons into the Ossetian language.