Regional language - Low German still not a subject in Brandenburg
Despite Brandenburg being the first German state to pass a Low German law in June, there are only a few places offering Low German instruction for children. The regional language is not yet a regular school subject in the state, according to Astrid Flügge, manager of the Lower German Association in Brandenburg, speaking to the German Press Agency.
Currently, there are five volunteers - mainly in northern Brandenburg - offering Low German as an extracurricular activity. Such projects exist in Prenzlau (Uckermark), Putlitz and Bad Wilsnack (Prignitz), Rheinsberg and Wittstock (Ostprignitz-Ruppin), and Lunow (Barnim). Approximately 50 girls and boys - most of them in primary school - are currently participating in the voluntary offering, according to the statements. "Lower German as a regular school subject is still a future music," Flügge said.
"Brandenburg Plattfibel" for Introduction to the Regional Language
She welcomed the new Lower German law, but many provisions were still too vague. The law describes the language areas and secures public bilingualism and political influence opportunities for the speaker group, according to a statement from the Association. Furthermore, it opens up opportunities for the promotion of Lower German in the educational sector.
However, "we would have wished for more far-reaching regulations for kindergartens and research, or the financing issues for the municipalities associated with these," the Association writes.
A problem is that there is no university education for Lower German teachers in the region. Corresponding offers exist at the universities in Greifswald, Kiel and, since recently, in Oldenburg (Lower Saxony). However, the Association published the "Brandenborch Plattfibel" in honorary work in 2020 to enable primary school children to make an entry into the regional language.
Lower German is a foreign language for many children
Until there is Lower German instruction in Brandenburg, there are still thick boards to be bored through, says Heidi Schäfer from Sewekow near Wittstock (Dosse), who represents Brandenburg in the Federal Council for Lower German. She has been offering a "Kinnerschool" with currently six pupils up to the 7th grade since 16 years. The afternoon instruction is, however, often very demanding for the children.
Moreover, Lower German is a foreign language for many children. "They have not heard Plattdeutsch for two, three generations," Schäfer said. That's why it's important to start language promotion in kindergarten. A corresponding model project as a voluntary offering exists, for example, in the kindergarten Kinderland in Wittstock (Dosse).
Lower German Association in the State of Brandenburg e.V.
- Children in Wittstock, located in the Uckermark region, have the opportunity to learn Low German as an extra-curricular activity, thanks to a project run by volunteers.
- Despite Brandenburg being the first German state to pass a Low German law, the regional language is not yet a regular subject in schools, according to Astrid Flügge, manager of the Lower German Association in Brandenburg.
- The "Brandenborch Plattfibel" was published by the Lower German Association in 2020 to help primary school children in Brandenburg begin learning the regional language.
- Heidi Schäfer, who represents Brandenburg in the Federal Council for Lower German and has been offering a "Kinnerschool" for 16 years, noted that Low German is a foreign language for many children.
- The regional language instruction for children is limited to a few places, mostly in northern Brandenburg, with projects in cities like Prenzlau, Putlitz, Bad Wilsnack, Rheinsberg, Wittstock, and Lunow.
- Low German teachers in the region face a lack of university education, with corresponding offers available at universities in Greifswald, Kiel, and Oldenburg (Lower Saxony).
