Chechnya seems to be reconsidering its decision to reduce lesson hours dedicated to native language instruction

In a recent development, Ilyas Taeev, the First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Chechnya, has confirmed that the number of hours allocated for studying Chechen in Chechnya's schools will remain unchanged. This announcement comes after a previous statement by Chechnya's Minister of Education and Science, Khozh-Baudi Daaev, suggesting a fivefold reduction in Chechen language study hours.

According to data published by the Russian Education Ministry in 2021, Chechen is one of the most spoken among Russia's indigenous peoples, with over two million speakers. The language is primarily spoken in Chechnya, as well as in the Khasavyurt and Novolak districts of Daghestan, in Ingushetia, and in a number of countries abroad, including Georgia, Turkey, Syria, and Jordan.

Daaev's initial statement about the reduction in Chechen language study hours was published in August 2021. However, it has been reported that he has since revised his statement. According to Taaev, one hour of Chechen language study from classroom activities has been moved to extracurricular activities.

This shift in Chechen language study hours is due to changes in the maximum amount of hours children are allowed to be kept at school. Russia's Education Ministry announced this summer that the single hour allocated to the study of native languages across the country, including Chechen, is being moved to non-mandatory extracurricular activities.

It is important to note that the overall volume of Chechen language teaching, according to both Taaev and the updated version of Daaev's statement, remains the same. The article did not mention any changes to Chechen language study hours in schools outside of Chechnya.

Interestingly, the original version of the article about a fivefold reduction in Chechen language study has been preserved on various aggregators and in cached versions. However, it is unclear why this article was altered without any note of correction on Grozny-inform, the Chechen news agency that published the initial statement.

Before the start of the First Chechen War in 1994, the number of Chechen language speakers was between 750,000 and 950,000 out of a total population of some 1.3 million. In July 2018, the Russian Parliament adopted amendments to the law on education, which provided for the study of state languages within the Russian republics on a voluntary basis.

This clarification on Chechen language study hours provides much-needed reassurance to those concerned about the future of the Chechen language in education. The Chechen language remains an important part of the cultural heritage of the Chechen people and will continue to be taught in schools in Chechnya.

Chechnya seems to be reconsidering its decision to reduce lesson hours dedicated to native language instruction